In the morning of May 2nd, around 1:00 am, something horrific occurred at Tamralipto Government Medical College And Hospital. Two doctors, senior residents in the General Surgery department, were subjected to a brutal attack right inside their hostel by a group of patients and their friends.
Here’s what unfolded:
Sk Arif Ali, a 28-year-old resident of Kulberia Chaksrikrishnapur, Tamluk, Purba Medinipur, was brought to the hospital after a road accident. He was also intoxicated. Around 9:00 to 9:30 pm on May 1st, he arrived at the Male Surgical Ward accompanied by approximately 10-15 people. Doctors Sudip Paul and Soumitra did their best to treat him, but unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse.
After initial treatment and an NCCT brain scan (which showed no abnormalities), they had to wait until morning for further tests because the X-ray facilities were unavailable at night. They provided him with fluids, antibiotics, painkillers, and oxygen to stabilize him and planned to resume interventions if clinically necessary. His family was kept informed of the situation.
In the dead of night, the patient’s group clandestinely left the hospital without informing anyone, taking the patient with them.
Later, they returned, but this time with Sk Arif Ali deceased. They blamed the doctors for his demise and created chaos. They even resorted to recording videos and taking pictures of the hospital staff to intimidate them.
As Dr. Sudip Paul was returning to his room around 1:00 am, the assailants attacked him. They assaulted him with bricks, stones, and sticks. Dr. Sayan Chakraborty attempted to intervene, but he too was assaulted. Both doctors sustained severe injuries.
Other students residing in the hostel intervened and frightened off the attackers, but irreversible harm had already been done. Dr. Sudip Paul was left with severe lacerations, head injuries, and an injured left elbow, necessitating intensive care. Dr. Sayan Chakraborty suffered from temporomandibular dysfunction, a painful reminder of the senseless brutality they endured.
It’s heart-wrenching to contemplate. These doctors have families just like us. They were merely endeavoring to help people, but instead, they were met with violence.
Several questions arise:
1) Isn’t the hospital administration responsible for the security of their doctors?
2) Aren’t doctors government servants? Then why are attacks on government servants while on duty going unnoticed and unpunished?
3) Isn’t the hospital administration responsible for monitoring whether, when, and how admitted patients abscond from the ward under their supervision?
Our heart aches, pleading for justice. Are these doctors not someone’s sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, or sisters? Do they deserve such a cruel fate for their noble endeavor to save lives?
After dedicating years to rigorous education and training in medicine, enduring countless challenges and sacrifices, one must question: Is it truly worth it? Is the noble pursuit of saving lives worth the risk of sacrificing one’s own?
We implore you to contemplate this deeply: If your own child, who chose the path of medicine and surgery to serve humanity, faced such brutality, how would you respond? Wouldn’t you feel a sense of outrage and injustice?
Let us reflect on whether, as a society, we can allow such senseless violence to permeate a profession built on compassion and healing. Should anyone be subjected to such cruelty, especially those who dedicate their lives to the service of others?
We must stand up against this violence. It’s unjust to harm those who strive to save lives. Let’s unite and condemn these heinous acts, ensuring they never recur.
We should file a case against all these idiots. We all doctors should fight together immediately.