Delhi doctor, dresser assaulted by intoxicated patient days after strike ends

This attack comes shortly after resident doctors in Delhi resumed work on August 23 following an 11-day nationwide strike protesting the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.

Just days after the central government ordered hospitals to review and bolster their security by up to 25 percent, a resident doctor and a medical dresser were allegedly assaulted by a patient's attendant at Delhi's Dr. Hedgewar Hospital in Karkardooma. The incident occurred late Saturday night as the doctor was administering critical care to a patient with a forehead injury. The doctor reported that after starting to stitch the wound, the patient, who was intoxicated, suddenly pushed and verbally abused him.

The doctor who was assaulted, "Late Saturday night, around 1:00 am, a patient with a forehead injury was brought to the hospital. I took him to the dressing room to stitch the wound. After I finished the first stitch and was working on the second, the patient suddenly pushed me and began hurling abuses", as reported by PTI.

The patient's son then entered the room, slapped the doctor, and continued the abuse. "His son, who was outside the room, came in, slapped me and they both started abusing me further," stated the doctor, who has requested anonymity.

This attack comes shortly after resident doctors in Delhi resumed work on August 23 following an 11-day nationwide strike protesting the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The strike, which severely disrupted non-emergency services, ended after assurances from the government and an appeal from the Supreme Court. The government has since taken steps to improve safety, including increasing security personnel in hospitals and deploying Marshalls for immediate assistance.

In response to the broader issue of violence against healthcare workers, the Supreme Court has formed a 10-member National Task Force to establish safety protocols for medics, with an interim report expected within three weeks.