Jammu: Tensions flared at the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu on Wednesday following the death of a patient, leading to violence between the deceased's family and hospital staff. A video of the incident shows a female doctor being kicked by one of the patient's relatives. The incident resulted in a doctor being assaulted and a flash strike by junior doctors, disrupting emergency services.
The patient, 60-year-old Rajinder Kumar from Rehari Colony, had been suffering from a severe brain haemorrhage. After initial treatment at PGI Chandigarh, he was brought to GMC Jammu on July 11 for continued care. Despite treatment in the emergency ward, Kumar passed away on Wednesday due to respiratory arrest.
Following his death, Kumar’s family accused the doctors of negligence, leading to a heated altercation. The situation escalated when one of the family members allegedly assaulted a female doctor.
Viral Video Shows Family's Assault On Female Doctor
In a viral video that is making rounds on the internet, the patient's relatives can be seen creating a ruckus at the hospital. Within moments, one woman among them charges at the female doctor and launches an assault. She can be seen kicking the doctor before others stopped her. Police quickly intervened and an FIR was registered at the Bakshi Nagar Police Station.
Junior Doctors Announce Strike Over Assault Incident
In protest, junior doctors stationed in the emergency wing of GMC Jammu launched a flash strike, demanding immediate action against the perpetrators and highlighting ongoing concerns over violence against medical professionals. The sudden strike put emergency services under strain.
To manage the crisis, Principal and Dean of GMC Jammu, Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, directed all Clinical and Paraclinical Heads to ensure faculty members and consultants were deployed in the emergency department until normalcy returned. Addressing the media later, Dr. Gupta strongly condemned the violence.
“In a gruesome incident on July 16, attendants of a terminally ill patient resorted to physical and verbal violence against our doctors on emergency duty,” he said. “The patient had been referred back from PGI Chandigarh with a poor prognosis, clearly mentioned in the discharge summary. Despite being advised to seek basic care at a local hospital, the family brought the patient to GMC, where he received the best possible treatment,” he added.
Dr. Gupta added that on the fifth day of admission, the patient succumbed to respiratory arrest. “CCTV footage shows the family members kicking and beating the lady doctor,” he said. “Such attacks are unacceptable,” he further said.
The GMC administration, along with faculty and resident doctors, has demanded strong legal action and called for greater security measures in hospitals to protect medical professionals from recurring acts of violence.
