Hazaribagh, June 4: A sadar hospital doctor was thrashed here over claims of negligence by relatives of the BJP state secretary whose father and brother died in the hospital after a car accident.
While the incident angered the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which called an emergency meeting to condemn the act and to discuss what could be done to prevent such attacks on doctors, an FIR was filed against Dr Subhash Prasad.
According to police, BJP state secretary Ganesh Mishra, father Ramdev Mishra, brothers Ramakant Mishra and Ramnaresh Mishra and nephew Triloki Mishra were travelling towards Nirsa in Dhanbad from Arrah (Bihar), the family?s home town.
Around 1.30 am as they neared Barkatha, on the GT Road and around 65 km from Hazaribagh town, the driver lost control of the Indica, causing the speeding car to ram into a pile of concrete water pipes kept on the roadside.
According to sources, it was around two hours later that the injured were carried to the sadar hospital but no doctors were in sight.
It was apparently while help was being sought, Ganesh?s father and brother Ramakant, who had suffered severe head injuries, died.
Angry relatives then fell upon Prasad, who was reportedly found sleeping in a corner of the hospital, roughing him up for alleged medical negligence.
The others, including Triloki, Ramnaresh and the driver, have been referred to Ranchi.
When reports of assault on the doctor spread, IMA members came forth complaining that such instances were becoming a regular affair.
They called an emergency meeting chaired by Dr K. B. Ojha and demanded better conditions, as it would not be possible to work unless the administration provides them security.
IMA secretary Rajat Chakrberty said a delegation of doctors had met deputy development commissioner J.N. Singh and talked to him over the incident. ?Singh has assured us for proper security,? he added.Later, policemen were deployed inside the hospital to maintain security.
Chakraberty said they have also talked to health secretary Shivendu, who was in Delhi. ?The health secretary assured us, over the phone, that he will look into the matter after returning from Delhi,? said Chakraberty.
?But we will meet within a few days again to discuss over such attacks and to chalk out a strategy against such menace.?
Meanwhile, the Mishras repertory attempted to cover up who the driver of the vehicle was. Sources said that one of the family member was at the wheel and the driver was sitting at the back.
BJP activists, who had gathered at the hospital after news of the accident spread, also charged the doctors with not discharging their duties properly. Senior activists of the group also talked to chief minister Arjun Munda and apprised him of the situation.
