ITANAGAR, 5 May: To protest against the physical assault on Dr Tabu Muri and Dr Nabam Jadav and the vandalism of Samaritan Hormin Hospital on Monday, allegedly by family members of a deceased patient, all doctors in the Capital Complex have decided to shut down their daily routine work for two days (from 6 am of 7th May to 6 pm of 8th May).
However, emergency and Covid duties will continue.
In a joint statement, the Indian Medical Association-Arunachal Pradesh branch (IMA-AP), the Arunachal Pradesh Doctors’ Association (APDA), the Indian Dental Association-Arunachal Pradesh branch (IDA-AP) and the TRIHMS Faculty Association on Wednesday expressed deep anguish and strong resentment over the incident of “attempted mob lynching and vandalism.”
In a message, the TRIHMS Faculty Association said that it “genuinely condoles the death of the patient, but at the same time unequivocally condemns the attempted lynching of Dr Tabu Muri and Dr Nabam Jadav, and the sheer wanton vandalism of Hormin Hospital.”
“These brutal acts are unbecoming of any civilized society in general and deter doctors from further helping any needy patient in their full capacity out of fear of their own security, in the near future in particular. All grievances or disputes must have a legal resort. Taking the law into one’s own hands and resorting to violence, no matter whatever the reason, is totally unacceptable. Such unfortunate incidents will not mitigate but rather vitiate the present health-care scenario in the state,” it said.
Also condemning the assault on doctors, the IDA-AP said, “Such act of manhandling of doctors, vandalism of hospital property and taking law in their hands is totally unjustified and uncalled for. Such acts will not only demoralize but also will deter medical personnel from taking up a difficult treatment decision in the future.”
The medical fraternity’s agitation is expected to precipitate the Covid-19 crisis.
APSCW takes suo-moto cognizance of case
Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) has taken suo-moto cognizance of the woman’s death in Naharlagun’s Hormin Hospital, wherein her relatives alleged that the cause of her death was “due to medical negligence.”
The commission sent its condolences to the family of the deceased and requested the Capital Complex superintendent of police to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation of the instant case at the earliest so that justice may be delivered to the deceased and her family.
Further, the APSCW requested the public to cooperate with the investigation and not to take the law into their hands.
Earlier, a patient had been admitted and operated upon on 1 May at the Samaritan Hormin Hospital, and was discharged on the morning of 3 May.
“She was brought back dead to the emergency OPD at around noon. The doctor-on-duty attended to the patient immediately but despite best efforts, the patient could not be revived and was declared brought dead,” as was informed by the hospital earlier.
The hospital claimed that the patient’s family was reluctant to accept the explanations for a possible cause of death and “they started vandalizing the hospital property and manhandled the doctors and staff of the hospital.”
