Srinagar: Doctors at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, affiliated with Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, have called off their strike following the arrest of a man who assaulted a postgraduate resident doctor in the hospital’s emergency ward earlier this week.
The assault occurred around 12:15 am, when a 40-year-old patient was brought to the hospital in critical condition. Medical staff immediately examined the patient and found his vitals non-recordable. He was shifted to the triage area within minutes, but despite active resuscitation, the patient died within 10 to 15 minutes.
Shortly afterward, the patient’s brother-in-law allegedly slapped a doctor in the emergency room, blaming him for medical negligence. According to the accused’s earlier statement, he had urged the doctor multiple times to check the patient, alleging that the doctor ignored pleas to administer oxygen. However, CCTV footage and medical records reportedly did not support the claim.
Police Take Swift Action, Apology Video Emerges
The Karan Nagar police acted swiftly, arresting the attacker after a formal complaint by hospital authorities. “We have arrested the person and an investigation is going on,” said a police officer, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Meanwhile, a video apology from the accused has surfaced, in which he admits wrongdoing, retracts his initial allegations, and accepts that the doctor was not at fault.
Doctors Protested, Demanding Safety and Legal Action
The incident sparked widespread outrage among the medical fraternity. Hundreds of doctors staged a massive protest on the GMC Srinagar campus, suspending Outpatient Department (OPD) and emergency services. Their core demand was strict legal action against the assailant to prevent such incidents in the future.
The strike affected routine hospital services for over a day. However, essential services such as emergency care were reportedly managed by skeletal staff under extraordinary circumstances.
Strike Ends Following Arrest
After the formal arrest of the accused, the protesting doctors called off the strike and resumed duties, expressing relief that their demand for justice was met.
A senior doctor stated,
“We stood united not only for our assaulted colleague but for every doctor in this country. Assaults on healthcare workers must not go unpunished. We hope this sets a precedent.”
Ongoing Concerns Over Doctor Safety
This incident has once again highlighted the growing threat of violence against healthcare professionals across India. Medical associations and student bodies have renewed calls for the implementation of stronger legal protections, including the long-pending Healthcare Workers Protection Act.
