Watch video: Clash erupts between patient's kin, doctors at Patna's IGIMS hospital

New Delhi: A heated altercation unfolded at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna on Monday evening, February 26th, sparking chaos and violence between the family members of a patient and the attending physicians. Accusations of medical negligence flew amidst a flurry of kicks and punches, escalating tensions within the hospital premises. The patient's relatives allege that the doctors failed in their duty to provide adequate care, while medical staff claim they were assaulted without cause. Adding to the turmoil, the family purportedly brandished a revolver in the ICU, intensifying the confrontation, an episode that was captured on the hospital's CCTV cameras.

पटना के IGIMS में मारपीट और हंगामा
डॉक्टर और मरीज के परिजनों में भिड़ंत
महिला मरीज और उनके रिश्तेदार भिड़े
पुलिस ने तीन लोगों को हिरासत में लिया
IGIMS के सुप्रिटेंडेंट मनीष मण्डल ने कहा
'बंदूक दिखा कर दी जा रही थी धमकी'#Bihar #Patna @bihar_police @NitishKumar pic.twitter.com/6MqVRO7TQS

— Er Md Raghib (@thisisraghib) February 26, 2024

Legal action initiated against aggressors

Dr. Manish Mandal, the Superintendent of IGIMS, shed light on the altercation, detailing how the patient's family members engaged in physical altercations and brandished weapons, leading to a tumultuous scene. In response to a written complaint filed by IGIMS Security Supervisor Bacha Singh, authorities registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the patient's family at the Shastri Nagar police station. Four individuals, namely Srijani Singh, Chandrabhan Singh, Surajbhan Singh, and Abhishek Singh, were named in the FIR, with an additional six persons listed as unknown assailants.

The complaint outlines instances of violence alongside the wielding of weapons, prompting the arrest of Chandrabhan Singh, a relative of the patient, who was found in possession of a licensed revolver and 20 live cartridges. The incident, documented under case number 165/24 at the Shastri Nagar police station, invokes multiple sections of the law, including 188/290/147/149/323/504/506.

Political fallout? RJD MP condemns state government

In the aftermath of the altercation, RJD MP Manoj Jha launched a scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar-led government, denouncing its handling of the situation at IGIMS. In a pointed statement, Jha expressed dismay over the incident, asserting that it epitomizes the governance crisis plaguing Bihar. He decried the brazen display of violence within hospital premises and questioned the trajectory of Bihar under the current administration, underscoring the urgent need for a reevaluation of governance models in the state.

As tensions simmer and legal proceedings unfold, the incident at IGIMS serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between patient rights, medical responsibilities, and the imperative for a safe and secure healthcare environment.