Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, 30 September 2024, Kolkata: In a disturbing incident at National Medical College Hospital, junior doctors were assaulted by an intoxicated patient and his family. Following a similar incident at Sagar Dutta Hospital, this attack included verbal abuse and death threats, causing widespread concern at one of Kolkata’s key medical facilities.
The altercation occurred when a patient, accompanied by friends, arrived at the hospital’s emergency department in an inebriated state, with severe hand injuries. After the doctors recommended an operation, the patient demanded immediate treatment, which the doctors explained was not feasible without proper preparation. This refusal triggered chaos in the hospital, with the patient and his relatives becoming aggressive and issuing threats against the doctors.
Five junior doctors from the surgery emergency unit were on duty during the incident. They reported that the patient and his family threatened to harm them. Following the attack, a formal complaint was lodged at the Beniyapukur police station. The police have since launched an investigation, arresting four individuals in connection with the assault and requesting CCTV footage from the hospital for further review.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and security of medical professionals at the hospital. Many doctors have expressed feelings of extreme insecurity, questioning the adequacy of safety measures in place to protect them while they perform their duties.
In response to the complaint, police officials were stationed at the hospital for an extended period. However, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about the protection of healthcare workers in high-stress environments like emergency departments.