Pune: A resident doctor was brutally beaten up at the JJ Hospital in Mumbai on Saturday by a patient’s relatives, who later vandalised the hospital property. A video of the incident is being widely shared on social media. 

Ironically, the incident has taken place a year after the Maharashtra Resident Doctors Association (MARD) went on strike last year. The MARD strike was held to protest such attacks on doctors by patient’s relatives and lack of strict laws for doctors security. The strike last year was supported by doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) across the State. 

Speaking to Sakal Times, Dr Ajay Vane, Secretary General of MARD, Pune, termed the event as unfortunate and said, “Even after the strike, the government and the college administration has been very negligent. We have security at the hospital, however, the alarm system is still not in place,” said Vane. He also noted that the MARD Pune members visited the BJ General Medical College (BJGMC) and Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) authorities on Saturday to inform them about the alarm systems that are not in place.

“The authorities have assured us that the alarm system will be in place in less than seven days. These alarm systems will be used if a doctor is in trouble or under attack from the relatives. However, the authorities have now decided to act after a resident doctor in Mumbai has faced an assault,” said Vane.

In the wake of the assault, he also added that if central MARD decides to go for a ‘mass bunk’, Pune MARD will be extending its support.

Dr Parthiv Sanghvi, Secretary of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra, said that there is a law against assaults of doctors, however, it is seldom implemented.

“There is a need to start implementing the law as the medical fraternity is facing such attacks more frequently now. Also, if central MARD requests Indian Medical Association to support them, we will be extending help,” said Sanghvi. 

Recent assaults on doctors across the State
- March 12, 2017: A 35-year-old resident doctor was brutally assaulted by a mob of relatives at the Dhule Civil Hospital. 
- March 16, 2017: Three hospital employees including a staff nurse were allegedly assaulted by relatives of a patient who died of H1N1 in Nashik Civil Hospital. 
- March 18, 2017: A resident doctor from Sion Hospital was assaulted by relatives of a 60-year-old patient with chronic kidney disease. 
- March 19, 2017: An orthopaedic junior resident at Government Medical College in Aurangabad was beaten up by a patient’s relatives.
- September 9, 2017: Pune based gynecologist was assaulted for refusing to abort a five-month-old pregnancy.
- March 24, 2018: A doctor from DY Patil Hospital and Research Centre was attacked after the patient was declared dead.