ICU Assault on Duty Doctor
In a shocking case of violence against medical professionals, a 28-year-old resident doctor from the Neurosurgery Department at Rajkot Civil Hospital was allegedly abused and assaulted by an attendant of an accident victim while on duty in the ICU. The incident has once again raised serious concerns over the safety of doctors in government hospitals.
Dispute Over Unused Blood Unit
According to reports, the accused became angry after being asked to return an unused bottle of blood issued from the hospital blood bank. As per standard protocol, unused blood must be returned so it can be utilised for other patients. The accused allegedly entered the ICU without authorisation and began abusing the nursing staff.
Doctor Attacked After Intervention
When the resident doctor intervened and asked the attendant to maintain discipline inside the ICU, the situation escalated. The accused allegedly pushed the doctor to the ground, punched him, and threatened to kill him. The doctor sustained facial injuries in the assault, while the accused fled before security personnel could effectively intervene.
Incident Details and Accused Identified
The incident occurred on the night of December 28. The accused, identified as Jaydeep Chavda, was accompanying a relative of accident victim Binay Thapa, who was admitted on December 25 with severe head injuries and had undergone surgery. Hospital sources confirmed that the accused entered the ICU without a valid entry pass and turned aggressive when staff explained the blood return protocol.
Doctors Launch Protest, Services Affected
Following the assault, resident doctors under the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) at PDU Medical College and Hospital launched a protest on December 31 from 6 pm. They boycotted OPD services and planned surgeries, demanding immediate action, including the arrest of the accused and accountability of security staff present at the time.
Police Action and Legal Sections Invoked
The next day, police arrested the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including obstructing a public servant on duty, use of criminal force against a public servant, voluntarily causing hurt, and criminal intimidation. Doctors, however, insisted that strict action alone would not be enough without systemic security reforms.
Administration Orders Inquiry
Hospital superintendent Monali Makadiya termed the incident “condemnable” and said an inquiry committee had been formed. She noted that relatives often fail to understand the nature of medical work, where doctors are required to prioritise critically ill patients. The administration assured cooperation with the investigation.
Medical Bodies Demand Safer Workplaces
The Gujarat Medical Teachers Association and the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) strongly condemned the attack and extended support to the protesting doctors. FORDA highlighted the failure of on-duty security personnel and warned that hospitals would become unsafe if such lapses continued. The associations demanded strengthened security, swift punishment for the culprits, and measures to ensure a safe working environment for healthcare workers.
