Mumbai: Assault on Doctors at Cooper Hospital

Incident Overview

A troubling incident occurred two days ago at Dr. R.N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital, where three doctors were reportedly assaulted by the relatives of a deceased patient in the casualty ward. As of now, no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the individuals involved in the assault.

Protest by Resident Doctors

In reaction to the alleged attack, resident doctors at Cooper Hospital organized a mass sit-in protest that evening. They held placards and shouted “We want justice” to voice their concerns regarding the incident.

Lack of Action from Authorities

Sources within the Central MARD (Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors) indicate that the police have yet to file an FIR, despite the doctors’ formal complaint. This delay contradicts a central government directive that requires all medical institutions and government hospitals to register an FIR within six hours of any assault on medical personnel.

Related Coverage

– Violence Caught on Camera: Cooper Hospital casualty doctors attacked after patient death.

Demands for Security Enhancements

Multiple medical associations, including FAIMA, BMC MARD, and Central MARD, are advocating for the permanent deployment of trained, armed, and accountable security personnel in high-risk areas such as casualty, ICU, and OBGY wards. They also emphasize the necessity of continuous CCTV surveillance.

These associations have issued a warning stating that if their demands are not met by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 10, resident doctors across all BMC-run hospitals, including KEM, Sion, Nair, and Cooper, will begin mass leave, effectively halting all non-emergency services, as reported by Free Press Journal.

Details of the Assault

According to reports from Medic Helpline, the assault involved a Casualty Medical Officer, a resident doctor from the Medicine department, and an intern doctor at Dr. R.N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital. The doctors were attacked while on duty, suffering injuries from multiple strikes to the face, chest, and abdomen.

Security Personnel’s Inaction

It is concerning that security personnel were present during the assault but did not intervene, remaining passive observers throughout the incident.

Call for Justice

The Central MARD has condemned the attack, labeling it a grave violation of humanitarian principles and the medical community’s commitment to saving lives. They are demanding the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and the suspension of security staff who failed to protect the doctors.

Viral CCTV Footage

CCTV footage of the incident has circulated widely on social media, showing a male attendant striking a doctor in the face upon learning of the patient’s death. The video captures the attendant repeatedly assaulting the doctor before directing his aggression toward another medical professional.

Government Mandate

– Hospitals Must Register FIR within 6 Hours of Assault on Doctors: MoS Health tells Parliament.