Nagpur: Policeman and son accused of assaulting resident doctor at Mayo Hospital

A case of assault on a resident doctor on duty at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital, also known as Mayo Hospital, in Nagpur has come to light. A policeman and his son are alleged to have beaten the doctor on November 4. CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced. The incident has once again raised the question of the safety of doctors.

The incident is said to have taken place in the hospital's casualty ward. The doctor had begun treating a critically ill patient first. The policeman and his son are alleged to have been angered by this decision and to have assaulted the resident doctor. The names of the two have not been given in the report.

After the assault, the doctor went to the Tehsil police station to file a complaint. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) alleges that the doctor was made to sit there for about six hours.

MARD also claims that instead of receiving help, the doctor who complained of the assault was himself booked on serious charges. These are said to include wrongful restraint and endangering life. A separate case has also reportedly been registered against the policeman on the basis of the assault complaint.

Calling the incident serious, MARD has placed three demands. The association wants a fair investigation, the arrest of the policeman and his son, and the suspension of the policeman concerned.

The resident doctors' association has warned that if the demands are not met, doctors at Mayo Hospital will go on an indefinite strike. Maharashtra MARD has also warned of an agitation across the state.

Police officials, on the other hand, say cases have been registered on the basis of complaints from both sides. They say neither side has been favoured and that the truth will emerge only after a proper investigation.

The incident has again raised concern over the safety of doctors working in government hospitals, especially those who handle emergency and critically ill patients.