Two of them assaulted, resident doctors at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital on ‘indefinite strike’

This is the second case of assault at the hospital in the last one month. Doctors are seeking better security. Archive

At least 300 doctors from the Delhi government-run Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (DDUH) Monday afternoon went on an indefinite strike after two doctors were allegedly assaulted by the relatives of a patient inside the paediatric ward. The strike, sources said, has affected in-patient and emergency services at the hospital.
The incident took place around 12.30 pm, when the father of a seven-month-old — diagnosed with infection and sepsis and admitted in the paediatric ward — allegedly assaulted two doctors, accusing the hospital staff of delay in treatment, an official said.

The official added that the resident doctors from all the departments, including emergency have called an indefinite strike protesting against lack of security inside the hospital. A Delhi Police officer confirmed that an FIR has been registered under sections of The Delhi Medicare Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008.

“The father of the infant, who was admitted day before, was complaining that no doctor was treating the patient. The father then verbally threatened a female doctor. Later, I went to see the patient. However, the grandmother intervened saying that the doctors should guarantee that child will fully recover. I said we are doing our best. After that, the family hurled verbal abuses and the father physically assaulted me,” said Dr Gursimar Singh, President, Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), DDUH.

“Later, Dr Rishab Raj Saxena intervened. The father then pushed both the doctors. I have received a scratch on the eye; the other doctor, whose hand was twisted, has sustained a ligament tear. We spoke to the representatives from the medical superintendent’s office. He will meet us tomorrow. The strike will continue till the security is increased,” the RDA representative said.

The doctors said that the security officials came almost 20 minutes after the incident. “By 1.30 pm, all residents doctors decided to go on an indefinite strike. The in-patient and emergency services have been hit. Only the consultants and medical officers are available for patient care services,” an official said. This is the second case of assault reported this month at DDUH. Three weeks ago, there was another case of assault in the casualty war. Following that incident, doctors had gone on a six-hour strike protesting against lack of security at the hospital.