Hoshiarpur

In a heart-wrenching incident today, chaos erupted at ESI Hospital Hoshiarpur as attendant of a patient engaged in a heated altercation with Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Sunil Bhagat. The altercation turned violent when the assailant forcefully pushed Dr. Bhagat, causing him to collapse. Tragically, the doctor suffered a cardiac arrest on the spot. Despite desperate attempts to revive him, the medical team's efforts proved futile.

Dr. Bhagat was swiftly rushed to a specialized cardiac unit in another hospital, where he now lies in a coma, fighting for his life on a ventilator. The local unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wasted no time in mobilizing, condemning the appalling incident. An FIR has been promptly lodged under the Punjab Medicare Act and Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), with the perpetrator apprehended by authorities.

This distressing event underscores a disturbing trend of escalating violence against healthcare professionals, plunging the medical fraternity into a state of grave concern. The IMA, alongside other medical associations, is vehemently calling for the implementation of a central law to stem this alarming tide.

The specter of violence looms large, forcing doctors into a defensive stance that jeopardizes patient care. Regrettably, society bears the brunt of this defensive approach, as doctors increasingly opt to refer patients rather than risk their own safety in providing treatment.

The frequency of such harrowing incidents has become a grim reality, with not a day passing without news of such unfortunate events. This grim reminder echoes a similar tragedy in 2022 when Dr. Archana Sharma, a gynecologist in Rajasthan, tragically took her own life following a violent altercation, sparking widespread protests among doctors nationwide.

As the medical community reels from yet another senseless act of violence, the urgent need for comprehensive safeguards to protect healthcare professionals and uphold the sanctity of medical practice has never been more apparent. Let us unite in prayer for the swift recovery of Dr. Bhagat and redouble our efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of those who dedicate their lives to healing others.