PANJIM: The Agasaim Police have registered a case against two women for abusing and assaulting a young doctor on duty at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bambolim.
According to the police, the incident occurred on May 22 between 7 pm and 9.30 pm, when Dr Shubham Prabhudesai had gone in the GMC’s medicine ward. A woman identified a Z Fernandes from Alto, Mapusa and another unknown woman entered into an argument with the doctor over the treatment to the patient, who is the father of one of the assailants.
Fernandes abused the complainant in filthy language and pulled the shirt and hand of Dr Prabhudesai and other unknown woman removed her slippers and made gesture to hit the complainant thereby obstructing the doctor, while discharging his lawful duties.
Though the exact reason as to why the accused assaulted the doctor was not immediately known, it is learnt that the complainant had told them that he was an emergency doctor and that they can air their grievances to the treating doctor.
The Agasaim Police registered a case against both the women under Sections 504, 352, 186, and 353 read with 34 IPC. The police have issued a notice of appearance under Section 41 CrPC to Z Fernandes.
PSI Swapnil Naik is conducting investigations under the guidance of Agasaim PI Anant Gaonkar.
Meanwhile, Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) president Dr Frazer Rodrigues had strongly condemned the attack on Dr Prabhudesai.
He said, “We support Dr Prabhudesai. He has already filed a complaint and an inquiry is on. There should be no violence against doctors because we are doing our duty. Such assault will affect the medical care of other patients.”
Indian Medical Association (IMA) Goa State president Dr Sandesh Chodankar has strongly condemned the cowardly act of violence against Dr Shubham Prabhudesai and demanded a strong legal action against the culprits as per the Goa Medicare Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act 2013.
“If we want that medical practitioners should do justice to their patients without any fear of physical violence and abuse from patients or their relatives, the Act has to be implemented in spirit and action,” Dr Chodankar said.
IMA Goa State former president Dr Shekhar Salkar said, “We strongly feel that the culprits should be arrested immediately and sent behind the bars and apply Section 4 and 5 of Goa Medicare Services Act 2013.”
IMA Goa State Medicolegal Cell chairman Dr Shailesh Kamat said that as per the Act, any person, group of persons or organisation commits or attempts to commit or abets or incites the commission of violence, is cognisable and non-bailable. The punishment for the offence is three years imprisonment or fine of Rs 50,000.
Dr Kamat said that the registering the case under Sections of IPC like 504, 352, 186 and 353 was sheer negligence on part of police and highly condemnable and defeats the very purpose of the Goa Medicare Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act 2013.