Safdarjung doctor thrashed on duty

Tue, Feb 26 01:25 AM

A resident doctor treating a patient admitted in Safdarjung hospital's casualty ward early on Sunday ended up with stitches on his forehead and a sour taste in his mouth after the patient's attendants allegedly thrashed him for laxity in treatment. Dr.

Abhineet Sharma, a Junior Resident Doctor, was rattled by the violent episode. He has said in his complaint to the police that his confidence has been shattered and the violent episode would hamper his ability to render medical treatment in the future, said an officer.

Shalini Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest), said a case of voluntarily causing hurt and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty was registered. "We are verifying the doctor's claim," she said.

Sharma was on night duty when a patient, Hardeep, complaining of incessant cough, was rushed to the hospital's emergency ward. Sharma received the patient and carried out a preliminary checkup.

"I asked them to move to the necessitation room, which has all the paraphernalia, including an oxygen cylinder, that may have to be used for treatment," said Sharma. Hardeep's attendants, his brother Mandeep and father, promptly took him to that room.

Sharma said he was sitting in the casualty ward's waiting area just outside the room and the medical officer on duty was treating Hardeep, when the problem arose. "Mandeep suddenly came out of the room, charging at me.

He accused me of neglecting his brother and pushed me. I fell on a bench and asked him to calm down since Hardeep was already being treated.

He then snatched my stethoscope and hit me on my forehead," said Sharma. "I received four stitches.

I don't know what happened to the attacker, but I was told the patient was treated and discharged within a few minutes," said Sharma.

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