Docs in Hyderabad protest as kin of dead COVID-19 patient goes on rampage

Junior doctors at the Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad staged a protest after the relative of a deceased COVID-19 patient went on a rampage, throwing chairs at on-duty doctors and accusing them of negligence. The doctors want the state government to form a special protection force to protect doctors on COVID-19 duty.

Hyderabad (Telangana): Junior doctors at Hyderabad's Gandhi Hospital staged protests on Tuesday night after the kin of a COVID-19 patient who had died, attacked on-duty doctors.

According to the doctors, a 55-year-old man was admitted to the hospital as he was diagnosed with SARI and had tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. The patient had been admitted to the Acute Medical Care (AMC) ward, where all 65 beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Doctors said that the patient was breathing through a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, and was advised not to remove it. However, the Telangana State Junior Doctors Association said that the patient did not heed their advice, and removed the breathing mask to visit the washroom. The patient then reportedly collapsed on the way to the washroom.

Shortly after the death of the patient, his relative went on a rampage, accusing the doctors of neglecting him. Two postgraduate doctors and three house surgeons were present in the ward at the time. Doctors complained that the patient's attendant threw plastic and steel chairs at two on-duty doctors.

Following the incident, the attacker was taken into custody by the police.

Junior doctors then staged protests outside the hospital, demanding that the Telangana government form a special protection force to protect on-duty doctors attending to patients in COVID-19 wards.

Read:COVID-19 tests on all deceased in govt hospitals unscientific: Telangana health minister