A man has been arrested after allegedly attacking a male doctor at a state-run medical college in Kochi, Kerala, just days after the brutal murder of a woman doctor in the same state. The accused, identified as twenty-four-year-old Doyal, sought treatment at the government medical college after being injured in a road accident. However, hospital staff noticed his strange behavior from the moment he arrived.
According to witnesses, Doyal attempted to manhandle the doctor who came to treat him. A video that circulated on social media depicted the accused arguing, threatening the doctor, and behaving rudely towards hospital staff. Despite the efforts of those accompanying him to calm him down, Doyal continued his aggressive behavior. Hospital security personnel intervened and informed the Kalamassery police, who subsequently arrested him.
Before being taken into custody, the accused was captured on video apparently threatening the doctor, claiming he remembered his face. The police have filed charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from their duty, use of abusive words, criminal intimidation, and provisions of the Hospital Protection Act. The accused is scheduled to be produced before court.
This incident follows the tragic murder of Dr. Vandana Das, a house surgeon at Azeezia Medical College Hospital. Dr. Das, who was working at the Kottarakkara taluk hospital as part of her training, was stabbed multiple times by a patient she was attending to and subsequently succumbed to her injuries on May 10. The incident sparked widespread protests across the state, with healthcare professionals, medical interns, students, and house surgeons taking to the streets to demand better safety measures for medical personnel.
These recent acts of violence against doctors have raised concerns about the safety and security of healthcare professionals in Kerala. The incidents highlight the urgent need for improved security measures in hospitals and stricter enforcement of laws to protect medical staff. The medical community and various organizations have called for immediate action to ensure the well-being and safety of doctors while they perform their duties.
