In a disturbing incident, junior doctors and nurses at Sagore Dutta Hospital initiated a cease work on Saturday after they were assaulted by the relatives of a patient who tragically died the previous night. The violence erupted late Friday following allegations of medical negligence related to the death of a woman, Ranjana Sau, who had been admitted with breathing difficulties.
According to police reports, a group of 15-20 individuals, including family members of the deceased, confronted the medical staff after Sau’s passing, leading to a violent attack. Several doctors and nurses sustained injuries during the incident. Authorities have since arrested four individuals in connection with the assault, and efforts are underway to identify additional suspects using CCTV footage from the hospital.
Alok Rajoria, Commissioner of the Barrackpore city police, confirmed the arrests and stated, “We are identifying those involved in the attack from CCTV cameras. They will be arrested soon.” Security measures at the State-run facility are being enhanced to prevent further violence.
The victim’s mother, Kiran Sau, expressed her frustration and grief, alleging inadequate treatment. “My daughter was rushed to the hospital with breathing problems. They didn’t even treat the patient. I requested them to do something, but we were asked to wait. They didn’t give any medicine. My daughter stopped breathing,” she said.
In response to the attack, junior doctors and nurses from Sagore Dutta Hospital have ceased all non-essential services. This incident recalls the violence that erupted earlier this year at RG Kar Hospital, which led to a 41-day strike by junior doctors throughout West Bengal. The doctors had partially resumed essential services on September 21 but had yet to return to outpatient department (OPD) duties.
Pranoy Sarkar, a senior resident doctor at the College of Medicine at Sagore Dutta Hospital, voiced the concerns of the medical staff: “Is it possible for us to work in an ambiance where doctors and nurses are threatened by another RG Kar-like incident and attacked? All we want is some safety and security.”
A nurse who witnessed the attack reported that relatives used whatever they could find as weapons, including flood plates and glass bottles. “The police were there, but they stood as spectators. When we went to lodge a protest with the hospital authorities, we were told that we were able to protest as we are government employees,” she stated.
In response to the growing unrest, Rajoria confirmed that a security audit of the hospital has been conducted and discussions are underway with hospital authorities to establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at bolstering security within the hospital premises.
As tensions rise, the situation at Sagore Dutta Hospital remains critical, with medical staff demanding both justice for the attack and better safety measures to protect them while they serve the community.
Sources By Agencies
