Jharkhand News: SNMMCH doctors assaulted after death of snakebite victim

SUBHASH MISHRA

Dhanbad, April 10: Doctors and nursing staff at the Emergency Ward of Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) in Dhanbad were assaulted late Wednesday night following the death of a one-year-old girl who was brought in after a snakebite.

The incident led doctors and nursing staff to go on strike around 2 a.m. on Thursday, demanding action against the deceased’s attendants and improved protection for medical personnel. Although police were deployed at the emergency gate, they did not intervene upon witnessing the anger of the family members.

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Family Members Attack Medical Staff After Child’s Death

According to the assaulted doctors and nursing staff, the snakebite case was brought to the emergency unit around 11 p.m. After initial treatment, the child was shifted to a ward. However, around 2 a.m., the girl died, following which the family members returned to the emergency unit and attacked the doctors and staff, blaming them for the death.

The doctors and nursing staff managed to resist the attack. Before the police and other hospital staff could reach the spot, the aggrieved family members fled the scene.

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Hospital Administration Calls It a ‘Minor Incident’

When contacted, hospital in-charge Dr. C.S. Suman described the event as a “minor incident,” saying such occurrences often happen after the death of critically ill patients. He also clarified that the doctors and nursing staff were not on strike and resumed their duties promptly by 9:30 a.m.

However, a senior resident doctor expressed concern over safety, stating that although police have been deployed at the emergency unit and a police picket is under construction, the feeling of insecurity among doctors persists.

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