Amid growing nationwide concern for the safety of doctors following the horrific rape and murder at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, another disturbing incident has now surfaced on the Internet. A woman junior doctor was assaulted by a patient at the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The attack was captured by a CCTV camera inside the hospital, revealing the grim realities faced by medical professionals in the country.
Watch the shocking assault video below:
Assault on ER Intern in SVIMS TIRUPATI
Just look at the audacity of the man trying to grab the female doctor in front of everyone
This is exactly why doctors are demanding Central protection act ! @APPOLICE100 pic.twitter.com/VEuG02BzQa
— Dr.Dhruv Chauhan (@DrDhruvchauhan) August 25, 2024
The shocking footage shows the patient, identified as Bangaru Raju, grabbing the junior doctor by her hair and forcefully banging her head against the steel frame of a hospital bed. The brutal assault was interrupted only when other doctors in the ward rushed to her aid, overpowering the attacker and removing him from the scene.
The victim, an intern at SVIMS, detailed the harrowing experience in a letter addressed to SVIMS director cum vice-chancellor, Dr. RV Kumar.
“I was unexpectedly attacked by a patient, Bangaru Raju, who approached me from behind, pulled my hair, and began forcibly banging my head against the steel rod of a cot,” she wrote. Alarmingly, the doctor pointed out that no security personnel were present at the time of the incident, leaving her vulnerable to the violent assault.
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This incident raises serious concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals in their workplaces. “If the patient had been armed with a sharp weapon, the situation could have escalated with severe consequences,” the intern wrote, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect medical staff.
In response to the attack, doctors at SVIMS staged a protest, demanding better safety protocols and immediate action to ensure a secure working environment.
The incident at SVIMS comes just weeks after the tragic rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata, a crime that has sparked widespread protests across the nation. The 31-year-old doctor was raped and killed while on duty, leading to an outcry from medical professionals demanding stricter measures to ensure their safety.
In light of these disturbing events, the Supreme Court has established a 10-member National Task Force to recommend steps to prevent violence against healthcare workers and to ensure their safety and dignity at work. The task force has been tasked with creating an action plan to address gender-based violence and provide a secure working environment for doctors.
The attack on the junior doctor at SVIMS once again highlights the urgent need for effective measures to protect those who dedicate their lives to saving others. As the medical community continues to call for better safety provisions, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by doctors on duty across the country.
