Taking serious cognisance of two doctors allegedly assaulting a patient admitted at Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla on Monday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday ordered that the inquiry into the incident be completed by Wednesday and necessary action be taken at the earliest.
“The incident at IGMC was completely unacceptable. Indiscipline will not be tolerated in any institution,” the chief minister said.
At a meeting with senior officers of the Health Department, IGMC and the Directorate of Medical Education, the chief minister discussed various issues related to medical education in the state, along with the IGMC incident, and sought detailed information from officials of the Health Department, IGMC and the Directorate of Medical Education about all facts connected with the incident.
Sukhu said, “Professionals’ behaviour at every institution should be polite and calm. It not only reflects an individual’s character, but also the image of the institution.”
The chief minister said doctors who studied at IGMC brought recognition to the State both in the country and abroad, and directed the Directorate of Medical Education to provide induction training to doctors joining medical colleges for senior residency.
The patient, Arjun Singh, 36, a resident of Kupvi in Shimla, who runs a canteen at a leading boarding school in Shimla, on Monday filed a police complaint against two doctors, Senior Resident Dr Raghav Luthra and Dr Raghav Narula, alleging physical assault.
Meanwhile, family members of Arjun meet Health Minister Dr Dhani Ram Shandil.
“Family members of the patient met me today at my office. The doctors should not lose control. Although we ordered a high-level probe, I believe Dr Luthra is not fit for the medical profession for the act he has done. Stringent action will be taken as per the findings of the probe report,” Shandil said.
Counter complaint, name of another doc added to FIR: police
On Tuesday, Dr Narula also filed a police complaint against Arjun.
Dr Narula, who is admitted at the hospital, released a video message, accusing the patient of misbehaving with him.
The doctor said, “People are drawing conclusions merely based on a 16-second-long video. People don’t know exactly what had happened before the incident. I addressed him (the patient) ‘tu’ (you) in a friendly manner, because his face resembles mine. I had seen in the ward earlier also. I told him, ‘Yaar tu too dekha-dekha saa lagg raha hai. Tu kab admit ho gaya (Friend, you seemed familiar to me. When did you get admitted?)’ But he took it in the wrong way and started abusing me and speaking ill of my family members.”
A police officer said, “The doctor’s complaint is under consideration. So far, we have not lodged any FIR on his complaint. However, we have included the name of another doctor, who was seen holding the legs of patient Arjun Singh in the video.”
Meanwhile, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) at IGMC came in support of the two doctors.
Association members stressed that the authorities took action against the doctors based on the patient’s side only.
RDA president Dr Sohit Sharma said, “Senior Resident Dr Luthra attacked the patient in self-defence.”
Citing the purported video of the assault, the association at a press conference at IGMC said, “In the video, the patient is seen kicking the doctors. This is the reason one of the doctors held the legs of the patient.”
Asked that the incident took place because the patient had objected to the rude behaviour of Dr Luthra, the association members said that “this is the half version of the story”.
Arjun, who was admitted to the hospital due to severe shortness of breathing, said, “Doctors advised me to get admitted in the hospital for the next 48 hours. My medical examination was conducted for the Medico Legal Report (MLR).”
Sources said Dr Luthra also developed some complications and was admitted to the hospital. The doctor also claimed to have suffered injuries, they said.
Arjun had visited IGMC for a bronchoscopy and was allegedly assaulted by two doctors, triggering widespread protests at the premier health institution on Monday.