Baragada: An on-duty doctor at the Baragada Community Health Centre (CHC) sustained serious head injuries after he was allegedly attacked with a stool by a patient’s attendant during the early hours of Monday, triggering outrage among the medical fraternity over the lack of security for healthcare professionals.
The injured doctor, Dr. Sudipta Kumar Raut, a medicine specialist, was attending to patients during his night shift when the incident occurred at around 2 am. The accused, identified as Vicky Singh, a resident of Ward No. 14 in Baragada town, had reportedly brought a child complaining of chest pain to the hospital.
According to Dr. Raut, he examined the child, prescribed medicines and directed the hospital staff to administer an injection in the ward. A short while later, the attendant allegedly requested the doctor to check his blood pressure.
“I told him that he had come to the hospital in a panic because of the child’s condition. I asked him to sit for 10 minutes, after which I would check the patient’s blood pressure. However, he suddenly picked up the stool he was sitting on and hurled it at me. I do not remember how many times he struck me, but I sustained a serious head injury,” said Dr. Raut.
Expressing concern over the safety of healthcare workers, he said doctors have repeatedly urged the government to strengthen security arrangements in government hospitals.
“We have been demanding better security for a long time, but no concrete steps have been taken. It is shameful that doctors on duty are not safe. I want the accused to be punished at the earliest and strict legal action to be taken against him,” he added.
Baragada CHC Medical Officer Dr. Sarada Prasad Nayak said he rushed to the hospital after receiving a call from Dr. Raut at around 2 am.
“Dr. Raut informed me that he had been attacked while on duty. We immediately reached the hospital and later lodged a complaint with the police. He suffered a serious head injury and also had an episode of vomiting. Arrangements are being made to shift him to a higher healthcare facility for advanced treatment,” Dr. Nayak said.
He said incidents of violence against doctors have become a matter of grave concern and reiterated the demand for enhanced security at government hospitals.
“If doctors are assaulted inside hospitals while treating patients, it becomes extremely difficult for them to discharge their duties without fear,” he said.
Following the complaint, personnel from the Baragada Town Police Station reached the hospital and detained the accused for questioning. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the exact sequence of events and the circumstances leading to the alleged assault.
