Violence Erupts at Nagpur Hospital Following Child's Death
A mob attacked medical staff at a Nagpur hospital after a three-year-old girl died, raising concerns over safety in healthcare settings.
A mob assaulted doctors and staff at a Nagpur hospital after a child's death.
The child was initially suspected to have dengue but her condition worsened after being taken home.
Hospital management is seeking police action against the attackers while emphasizing the need for safety for healthcare workers.
Tensions escalated at a private hospital in Nagpur on Thursday when a mob allegedly invaded the intensive care unit (ICU) following the death of a three-year-old girl. The incident unfolded after the child, who had been brought to the hospital with a detectable pulse, was initially suspected of having dengue. Despite medical advice for admission a day prior, her relatives opted to take her home, only to return when her condition deteriorated.
Upon the child's unfortunate passing, her family reportedly accused the hospital of inadequate treatment. Witnesses stated that as soon as the doctors communicated the news of the girl's death, relatives stormed into the ICU, a restricted area, where they began to physically assault the medical staff. Eyewitness accounts described a chaotic scene, with even female relatives participating in the violence against the doctors and nurses present.
The attack resulted in injuries to several medical personnel, including a senior paediatrician and the chief intensivist. Equipment in the ICU was damaged, and critical care operations were disrupted, leading to distress among other patients. The girl's parents took her body from the hospital without completing necessary post-mortem procedures, which further complicated the situation.
Later that night, the relatives approached the police seeking a death certificate and case documents, threatening to return the body to the hospital. However, the hospital administration refused to issue the certificate without a post-mortem, citing concerns about potential tampering. The hospital management asserted that they had comprehensive digital records of the child's treatment, indicating she had been under the care of the same physician for several years.
In response to the incident, a formal complaint was filed at the Dhantoli police station, accompanied by CCTV footage of the assault. Hospital officials and doctors spent hours at the police station advocating for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the attackers. A senior paediatrician expressed deep concern over the safety of healthcare workers, stating that such violence could instill fear among medical professionals. The incident has reignited discussions about the increasing violence against healthcare workers, especially in cases involving patient fatalities or adverse outcomes.
