Rising Incidents of Violence Against Medical Staff
Mumbai: Cases of alleged assault on medical professionals continue to be reported from Dr R. N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital. In a recent incident, a 23-year-old female intern doctor was allegedly kicked in the chest by an intoxicated patient while she was examining him in the early hours of Wednesday.
Incident During Early Morning Examination
According to reports, the patient arrived at the hospital around 4 am in an intoxicated and aggressive state. The intern doctor reportedly expressed that she felt unsafe and uncomfortable examining him. Despite her reluctance, she proceeded to check the patient’s vitals following instructions from the Chief Medical Officer.
Alleged Assault and Intern’s Hesitation
As per information shared by a doctor from the interns’ association, while the intern was examining the patient, he allegedly kicked her in the chest twice. The intern had reportedly flagged concerns about the patient’s aggressive behaviour even before the examination began.
Allegations Against Hospital Administration
The incident has also triggered allegations that the hospital administration attempted to discourage the intern from filing a police complaint. It remains unclear whether a formal police complaint has been lodged. Responding to the incident, Dean Dr Dev Shetty told TOI that it was a “minor altercation” and said the hospital left it to the intern to decide whether she wished to approach the police.
Pattern of Violence at Cooper Hospital
The incident adds to a growing list of violence-related cases at Cooper Hospital. In November 2025, three doctors were allegedly assaulted by relatives of a deceased patient inside the casualty ward. More recently, a large mob vandalised hospital property after a woman was declared dead on arrival, underscoring persistent concerns over the safety of healthcare workers and the need for stronger security measures.
