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What is the story
A junior doctor at the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in Tirupati was attacked by a patient; the incident was recorded on the hospital’s CCTV cameras.
The footage shows the attacker grabbing her by the hair and slamming her head against the steel frame of a hospital bed before other doctors intervene and subdue the attacker.
The incident came amid a nationwide wave of protests demanding better protection for doctors following the recent rapes and murders at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Doctor writes to hospital VC
In a letter to Dr RV Kumar, the director and vice-chancellor of SVIMS, the intern reported that she was on duty in emergency medicine on Saturday when she was “unexpectedly attacked by a patient, Bangaru Raju, who approached me from behind, pulled my hair and started violently hitting my head against the steel bar of a cot.”
She stressed the lack of security personnel and expressed serious concerns about workplace safety.
Hospital staff protest and demand increased security measures
Following the attack, doctors at SVIMS staged a protest and demanded improved safety measures at their workplace.
The incident at the hospital in Andhra Pradesh followed the recent gruesome rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata.
The 31-year-old doctor was attacked while on duty, causing great outrage.
The tragedy sparked massive protests, with doctors from several leading institutions across the country taking to the streets to demand better safety measures in their workplaces.
SC sets up task force
In response to growing security concerns, the Supreme Court has set up a ten-member national task force.
The aim of this task force is to recommend measures to prevent violence against healthcare workers and to safeguard their working conditions.
The court said the task force would develop an action plan to curb gender-based violence and ensure dignified workplaces for doctors.
