Chandigarh: Incident at PGI

A resident doctor working at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh became a punching bag to a grieving attendant after he was slapped by a lady on the demise of her mother. Responding to the incident, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of the prestigious institute has demanded strict implementation of the law against violence and attack on doctors by demanding strict implementation of security at the hospital.

A junior resident doctor attached to PGI Chandigarh was slapped by an attendant after his attempts to resuscitate the patient failed and she passed away on Monday night. The resident doctors staged an agitation in front of the director's office on Tuesday and demanded the deployment of security staff and resident doctors.

According to Dr. Rahul, president of the ARD, PGI, the incident took place at PGI's emergency OPD and the doctor, who was attacked, is a junior resident doctor pursuing his third semester.

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Describing the incident, ARD stated, "An unfortunate incident happened yesterday where a medicine JR was assaulted in Emergency duties by an attendant after the unsuccessful attempt at resuscitation of the patient after developing contrast-induced severe anaphylactic shock. The resident left no stone unturned and continued CPR for over 30 mins in a demanding situation with aggression from the attendants' side. Despite his best efforts, he was manhandled and slapped in public after the patient was declared dead with no ROSC."

Dr. Rahul mentioned that the patient was a 45-year-old female and she was admitted with severe abdominal pain. The junior doctor even tried to resuscitate the patient for 40 minutes as she suffered severe anaphylactic shock. However, when the patient could not be saved, the daughter of the patient humiliated him and slapped him. "A meeting was held on 22nd February with the Director, PGI, and representatives of residents and ARD members to discuss solutions over these problems so that residents don't have to face such humiliation in the future," the association stated.

The ARD held a meeting with Prof Surjit Singh, director, PGI, and the administration agreed to form an institutional committee to deal with such incidents. It will be available 24/7 and henceforth institutional FIR will be done. Moreover, security staff will be increased in the EMOPD area with one police personnel along with them. Prof Jain, HOD IM, promised that he will appoint more JRs and SRs in an emergency. Director, PGI, has also agreed to appoint social workers and counselors in the EMOPD area.

Dr. Rahul told, "We are glad that authorities listened to us and have already decided to recruit doctors even on an ad hoc basis if necessary to ensure proper workforce in emergency wards. We sympathize with the patient's family but being aggressive with the doctor who toiled continuously to save a patient's life is not acceptable. We need strict measures for the protection of our doctors from the abuse of patients' attendants. We hope that just the way one is arrested immediately if one assaulted an on-duty police officer, similar laws should be formed in case of assaulting an on-duty doctor."