Cuttack:A senior doctor of Sri Ram Chandra Bhanja (SCB) Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack was arrested on Tuesday night following allegations of sexual assault levelled against him by two patients while the Odisha government has set up a three-member committee to probe into the case. However, the family members of the doctor have demanded an impartial probe, claiming that the incident had been misinterpreted.
The alleged incident occurred on August 11 when two women had visited the hospital for an echocardiogram (ECHO) test. A second-year medical student of the hospital, who was the daughter of one of the patients, had accompanied them but was not allowed inside the room where ECHO was performed.
After the test, the women complained that they were allegedly sexually assaulted by the accused, a senior resident doctor of the hospital's Cardiology Department. They lodged a complaint at Mangalabag police station against the doctor after which, a probe was initiated.
However, the accused doctor was allegedly assaulted by victims' family members, resulting which, he had to be admitted to the hospital's ICU. An FIR was filed and the doctor was arrested by the police on August 13.
Confirming the arrest, Cuttack additional DCP Anil Mishra said, "We have received a complaint on Aug 11 at Mangalabag police station from two women, who had gone for an ECHO earlier on that day. As per norms, ECHO should be performed on female patients in the presence of a woman but no one was present inside the room during the complainants' ECHO. Even the second-year student was not allowed entry during the test. Later, the women complained that they were sexually assaulted by the doctor. A case was registered, investigations held and based on some evidence, the doctor was arrested.”
In view of the allegations levelled against the doctor, the state government has formed a three-member committee, comprising Prof. Santosh Kumar Mishra (DMET), Prof. Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra (Superintendent, SCB MCH, Cuttack), and Prof. Roman Ratan (Joint DMET), to conduct an inquiry and recommend appropriate action. The Health and Family Welfare Department has issued an order in this regard, Mishra said.