Himachal Medical Officers’ Association Calls for Mass Leave Amid Assault Controversy

Mass Leave Announcement

NEW DELHI: The Himachal Medical Officers’ Association has declared a mass leave on December 26, demanding the immediate revocation of the suspension of a resident doctor involved in an alleged assault on a patient at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC).

Demands for Action and Security

The association has also urged legal action against those responsible for the incident and emphasized the need for enhanced security measures in hospitals. They warned that if their demands are not met, they may resort to a collective leave or strike.

Incident Details

The controversy at Shimla’s IGMC arose from a recent incident in which a resident doctor was accused of physically assaulting a patient within the hospital ward. This situation escalated after footage emerged online showing a masked doctor repeatedly striking a patient lying in bed, while another doctor appeared to hold the patient’s legs down.

Patient’s Account

The patient, identified as 36-year-old Arjun Panwar, reportedly faced the assault after he objected to the manner in which he was addressed, requesting the doctor to speak with more respect.

Legal and Administrative Response

Following the incident, police registered an FIR against Dr. Raghav Narula, a 31-year-old senior resident in the pulmonary medicine department. The IGMC administration subsequently suspended the doctor. Under the direction of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, a three-member committee has been formed to conduct an internal inquiry into the matter.

Future Steps

IGMC Medical Superintendent Dr. Rahul Rao stated that disciplinary actions would be determined based on the findings of the inquiry. A separate police investigation regarding the case is also currently underway.