Doctor 'attacked' by suspected COVID-19 patient's kin in Hyderabad

The attendant of the suspected COVID-19 patient quarantined at Osmania General Hospital allegedly attacked doctors and later fled with the patient. The patient had tested positive for the COVID-19 following which the police tracked the two down and shifted them to another hospital.

Hyderabad: In another case of healthcare personnel being attacked while on COVID-19 duty, the attendant of a person with symptoms of COVID-19 attacked doctors at Osmania General Hospital here and later fled with the patient, hospital officials said.

After their escape, the results showed the patient has tested positive for the disease, following which a police team tracked the two down and shifted them to another hospital.

Police, however, said they have registered a case on a complaint that a doctor was allegedly threatened by the attendants of the suspected COVID-19 patient following arguments.

According to the Superintendent, relatives and the 55-year old man, admitted to the isolation ward on Monday, demanded that he be discharged after two other people in the same ward tested positive for coronavirus. During a wordy duel, the patient's son allegedly attacked a junior doctor on duty, he said.

"The suspected COVID-19 patient and his son wanted to go away from the hospital despite being counselled that he will not be discharged as his medical report was awaited," the official said adding the patient later "absconded" from the ward, but was traced near the hospital.

The junior doctors demanded enhanced security at the hospital, a representative of the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) said.

In the wake of the incident, it was also decided by the health authorities to shift all the suspected COVID-19 cases, including the 55-year old man, to the Gandhi Hospital, the designated facility for the coronavirus cases.

On April 1, an on duty doctor and staff at Gandhi Hospital were allegedly assaulted by the kin of a 49-year-old
coronavirus patient, who died while undergoing treatment there.

(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI AND ANI)