West Bengal News: Four accused were arrested in connection with an attack on doctors and nurses at the College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital near Kolkata, following the death of a patient during treatment. The deceased was a 30-year-old woman whose family members were involved in the assault, as informed by the police on Saturday.
The attack occurred on Friday evening when the family members allegedly assaulted healthcare workers in response to the woman's death. "We have got specific complaints from the hospital authorities. The CCTV footage from the hospital has been seized as evidence," stated Barrackpore's Police Commissioner Alok Rajoria, as quoted by news agency PTI. The accused were later presented before a court in Barrackpore.
In response to the incident, Health Secretary NS Nigam visited the hospital along with other officials from the Health Department. He held discussions with Rajoria and hospital officials, including junior doctors who had launched a cease-work protest following the violence. "We have heard the doctors and the nurses. The culprits have been arrested and from today, additional CCTVs are being installed. We will take all sorts of precautionary measures," Nigam assured.
The violent episode left three junior doctors and three nurses and healthcare workers injured. A significant police presence, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), has been deployed at the hospital to maintain order.
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Kolkata Hospital's Junior Doctors Initiate Cease-Work Protest
The situation escalated when junior doctors at Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital initiated a cease-work protest on Friday night after they were allegedly attacked by the patient's family. A junior doctor revealed that the patient's condition, a middle-aged woman suffering from acute breathing problems, had been critical prior to her death. "Following her death, a mob of around 20 people went on a rampage at the hospital and thrashed nurses and junior doctors who were on duty," the doctor alleged, as per PTI's report.
Purported CCTV visuals of the incident have been shared on social media.
The junior doctors expressed frustration over the lack of security in the outpatient department and hospital wards, emphasising the urgent need for protection. "Today's incident proves that the state administration is yet to wake up to our demand for safety. Till our demands for adequate safety are met, the cease work will continue," one junior doctor stated, according to the report.
Kinjal Nanda, a member of the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum, echoed the sentiments of her colleagues, saying, "Our repeated demand for the safety of junior doctors has not been fulfilled by the administration. We will declare our next course of action in the wake of this incident by tomorrow. We don't want a rerun of the RG Kar case."