Mumbai: Resident doctors at Sion Hospital go on strike over JJ hospital doctors thrashing

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Resident doctors of Mumbai’s Sion Hospital have gone on a one-day strike today to express solidarity with two resident doctors at JJ Hospital, who were allegedly thrashed by a patient’s family on May 19. Earlier, doctors at the JJ Hospital held a strike on Saturday.

Heavy security arrangements were made outside the OPD as the patients lined up seeking medical care.

Two resident doctors including a woman were allegedly beaten up by a patient's relatives at the state-run JJ Hospital on Saturday after a patient they were treating for gall bladder ailments passed away. 

While police registered a case against five persons and arrested four of them, the incident prompted the resident doctors at the hospital to go on a day-long strike.

 
The incident took place on Saturday morning when Zaida Sanaullah Sheikh (45), a resident of Mumbra who was being treated for a gall bladder ailment, died. 

Her family members alleged that it was due to negligence on the doctors' part, and beat up Dr Atish Parikh and a woman doctor who were on duty, a police official said.

They also allegedly ransacked the ward. CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media.

Police arrested four members of Sheikh's family, including a woman, for the alleged assault. One person was absconding.

A case under IPC sections 353 (assault on public servant), 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons) and Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Service Act, 2010 was registered.

The arrested accused were identified as Mohd Altaf Anulahak Shaikh (32), Sony Sanahullah Shah (23), Rihan Sanaullah Shah (22) and Salima Khatun Sanaullah Shah (20).

All four were sent in judicial custody till May 31 by a local court.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) alleged that despite repeated requests, there was no adequate security at the hospital.

MARD chief Dr Sarang Donarkar, in a letter to the Dean of JJ Hospital, alleged that the number of security guards has been reduced to half.

(With inputs from PTI)