Four Resident Doctors Injured in Alleged Mob Attack Inside Kurla Hospital, Medical Associations Demand Stronger Security
Violence erupted inside K.B. Bhabha Hospital in Kurla after the death of a 29-year-old woman following complications from an emergency Caesarean section, with four resident doctors allegedly assaulted by the patient’s relatives inside the gynaecology ward.
The incident has triggered outrage among medical professionals and renewed concerns over the safety of healthcare workers in government hospitals across Maharashtra.
According to reports, the primigravida patient, who was 38 weeks pregnant, was admitted to the labour ward on May 12 after complaining of abdominal pain. When labour induction reportedly failed to progress, doctors performed an emergency Caesarean section late at night. A healthy male baby weighing 2.95 kg was delivered successfully.
Hospital sources stated that the patient remained under regular medical observation the following day and was provided fluids and supportive treatment. However, at around 7:30 p.m., she reportedly complained of severe abdominal pain, followed by breathlessness at approximately 8:00 p.m. Doctors also observed an increase in abdominal girth.
The medicine registrar was immediately called for evaluation, and the patient was found to be disoriented with oxygen saturation levels dropping to 86 per cent. She was shifted to the EMS department on nasal oxygen support for further management.
Despite continuous medical intervention, the woman’s condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly. She was placed on ventilator support at around 8:45 p.m., but doctors were unable to revive her and she was declared dead at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Following the death, the patient’s relatives allegedly turned aggressive and attacked doctors on duty inside the hospital premises. According to the police complaint, one senior resident doctor suffered injuries after her head was allegedly slammed against a wall. Another senior resident was reportedly kicked, while a junior resident was allegedly hit using a trolley. Another doctor was reportedly pushed to the ground and assaulted.
The situation allegedly escalated beyond the control of on-duty security personnel and local police, forcing hospital authorities to seek emergency police assistance to restore order inside the hospital.
The following morning, the assaulted doctors, along with hospital officials, visited the police station and lodged an FIR regarding the incident.
The attack sparked anger among resident doctors and medical associations, with several doctors reportedly expressing reluctance to continue OPD services after allegedly receiving threats from the deceased patient’s husband, who was reportedly moving around the hospital premises intimidating healthcare workers.
Senior police officials later intervened and counselled the resident doctors, while hospital authorities reportedly assured stricter security arrangements and enhanced safety measures for healthcare staff.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Municipal Commissioner, BMC MARD condemned the violence and demanded immediate action against those responsible.
“Violence against doctors is ultimately violence against the healthcare system itself. If healthcare professionals working in emergency settings are forced to function under fear and insecurity, the quality, efficiency, and continuity of patient care are inevitably affected,” the association stated.
The association also expressed solidarity with the assaulted doctors and called for a zero-tolerance policy against attacks on healthcare workers.
Among the key demands raised by the association were strict legal action against the accused, fast-tracking of cases under healthcare worker protection laws, strengthening of hospital security infrastructure, deployment of trained permanent security personnel, controlled access to emergency wards, functional CCTV surveillance systems, and rapid police response mechanisms.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns regarding violence against healthcare professionals in India and the urgent need for stronger security measures in public hospitals.
