Junior docs squabble with deceased's kin, CMCH turns battlefield

Kolkata: A scuffle broke out between junior doctors and family members of a patient, who died of alleged medical negligence at the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday.

Junior doctors at the emergency ward of the hospital alleged that the family members of the deceased had beaten them up, while family members of the patient brought a counter allegation, accusing the junior doctors of attacking them. Ajit Singh, a resident of Jorabaga, was brought to the emergency ward of the hospital after he complained of serious respiratory distress.

It was alleged that the patient was administered an injection and later shifted to the out-patient department of the hospital.

The patient had allegedly been kept waiting at the out-patient department for nearly two hours. As the patient was denied treatment for a long time, his family members took him to the emergency ward.

They alleged that none of the doctors had attended to the patient, despite his serious condition. It was alleged that some of the junior doctors had asked the family members to take the patient elsewhere.

The patient eventually died and his relatives became furious. They attacked some of the junior doctors and snatched their mobile phones. Some of them suffered injuries in the incident.

The family members of the deceased staged a protest demonstration outside the emergency block and also outside the medical superintendent's office. This affected health services at the hospital.

Many of the patients were allegedly denied admission to the emergency ward.

A huge contingent of police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Around 5 persons have been held for creating trouble in the hospital.

The junior doctors, who were allegedly heckled in the hospital, have threatened to lodge an FIR against the deceased's family members, who led the attack on them.

The medical super of CMCH has denied the allegation that junior doctors had attacked the family members of the patient.