Victim’s family lodges FIR; protests erupt outside hospital demanding action
Bareilly: A 34-year-old doctor in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district has been booked for allegedly sexually harassing a female patient during her discharge process at a private hospital. The incident came to light after the woman’s brother lodged a police complaint.
According to police, the woman had been admitted to the hospital on Friday and discharged the following day. After returning home, she informed her family that the doctor had attempted to sexually assault her on the day of discharge. She alleged that he fled the scene when she raised an alarm but did not report the incident immediately due to fear.
Following the complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered under Section 75 (sexual harassment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, according to The Indian Express.
Investigation Underway, Medical Report Awaited
A police officer involved in the investigation confirmed that the victim’s medical examination has been conducted and the report is awaited. He also noted that the magistrate’s statement of the victim is yet to be recorded. No arrests have been made as of now.
Police are in the process of recording statements from hospital staff who were present at the time of the alleged incident to ascertain further details and corroborate the victim’s account.
Public Outrage and Protests Outside Hospital
News of the alleged incident sparked local protests outside the private hospital, with residents demanding swift action against the accused doctor. Police forces were deployed to control the situation and dispersed the crowd after assuring them of a fair and impartial investigation.
Related Incidents Raise Concerns Over Patient Safety
The incident has drawn comparisons with other recent cases of sexual misconduct in hospitals. In Haryana, a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in the ICU after childbirth, while in Delhi, a female patient died after being sexually assaulted by another patient at a government hospital.
As public concern over patient safety in healthcare institutions grows, authorities have promised a thorough probe into the Bareilly case to ensure justice is served.
===========
