Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee Lashes Out At NRS Doctors; Threatens Action If Protest Does Not End

Lashing out at the protesting junior doctors from NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee served an ultimatum saying that the government will take action after 2 pm on June 13, today, if the doctors refuse to end the agitation. She called the strike a “BJP conspiracy”. The doctors are protesting against their colleague being brutally beaten up for alleged medical negligence.

“Medical services come under the Essential Services Act and the doctors cannot afford to do such protests. If the strike is not called off, we will be forced to take action after 2 pm. This will be done as per the laws laid down by the Supreme Court,” said Mamata Banerjee while addressing the media.

Meanwhile, the doctors strike is getting boost from AIIMS colleagues in Delhi. The doctors here did their regular duty towards their patients, but wore helmets and bandages to symbolically protest against the violence against doctors in West Bengal.

The Incident

Paribaha Mukhopadhyay, an intern doctor of Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, was brutally beaten up for alleged medical negligence.

Paribaha is in a critical condition with a skull fracture. He has undergone a surgery at the Institute of Neurosciences in Mullickbazar.

Image: CT Scan Shared by Krishanu Majumdar, a Logical Indian community member

Junior doctors in Kolkata went on a strike after the family of the deceased patient, who died on June 10, allegedly attacked Paribaha. A group of about 200 men came in trucks and brutally beat up the doctors with stones, bricks, chairs and bamboo sticks.

Talking about the patient who died, a medical intern working at the hospital tells The Logical Indian, “Md. Sayeed was shifted to the medicine ward because he was stable. But we keep patients of Acute Coronary Syndrome under observation because they can develop a range of complications and their health can deteriorate any time.”

When his health did not improve, the doctors gave him an injection which is the last measure in case of heart failure. This mixture of Hydrocortisone and Adrenaline is the last attempt to revive someone.”

“As soon as the relatives were informed about his death, they started assaulting three interns, including Dr. Yash Tekwani, Dr. Paribaha Mukhopadhyay, and another doctor who does not wish to be named. All of them were shifted to CCU and Mukhopadhyay was later shifted to a higher centre with a fractured skull and internal hemorrhage” says a final year student of the NRS medical college.

The relatives have accused the hospital of delay in attending the patient.

According to the medical intern, when the violence began, police who were appointed told the doctors, “What’s the point running away? They will catch you anyway and beat you”.

Protests Erupt

The hospital gates were locked up by the junior doctors, who went on to stop work at the outpatient department (OPD) and sit on a dharna to protest against the attack. Patients broke the doors open and entered the hospital.

Kolkata:Junior doctors at NRS Medical College&Hospital go on strike after doctors were allegedly attacked by a patient's family who died yesterday.Chandrima Bhattacharya,Health Min,says,"Emergency is open&talks are on.4 ppl have been arrested in connection with attack on doctors" pic.twitter.com/EU3HNJvfnV

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2019

In the wake of the incident, adequate security has been deployed.

Yash Tekwani, another doctor who suffered injuries, is admitted in NRS.

After the incident, two ministers, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Nirmal Majhi, were mobbed by the junior doctors who took out protest marches throughout the city.

According to Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, four people connected with the case have been arrested.

After the arrests, the demonstration was lifted by the junior doctors. However, as a mark to protest, they are determined to not report to the outpatient department (OPD) tomorrow.

From 9 am to 10 pm tomorrow today, the OPD facilities of government hospitals and private hospitals in West Bengal will be shut.

BJP leader Mukul Roy, meanwhile, accused the Trinamool Congress government of not taking prompt action as the patient’s family belonged to a particular community.

According to West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) president and Trinamool MLA Nirmal Maji, the doctors are being persuaded to properly resume work.

“The chief minister has sent MoS Health Chandrima Bhattacharya, Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma, myself and other senior officials to talk to them. We are looking into their demand and hopefully the matter will be solved quickly,” Maji said.

Mamata Banerjee Serves Ultimatum

Lashing out at the protesting junior doctors, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee served an ultimatum saying that the government will take action after 2 pm on June 13, today, if the doctors refuse to end the agitation. She called the strike a “BJP conspiracy”.

“Medical services come under the Essential Services Act and the doctors cannot afford to do such protests. If the strike is not called off, we will be forced to take action after 2 pm. This will be done as per the laws laid down by the Supreme Court,” said Mamata Banerjee while addressing the media.

Meanwhile, the doctors strike is getting boost from AIIMS colleagues in Delhi. The doctors here did their regular duty towards their patients, but wore helmets and bandages to symbolically protest against the violence against doctors in West Bengal.

The Logical Indian Take

If doctors are indeed responsible for medical negligence, there are laws to hold them accountable. Resorting to violence and beating up a young man has only instilled fear in the minds of doctors who study for years to pursue a profession which demands honesty, hard work and perseverance.

Reporting by: Sumanti Sen and Guru Chaudhary

Also Read: Jharkhand: 14 Patients Die In 36 Hours As Junior Doctors Go On Strike For Assaulting A Colleague