GNDH orders probe into ‘rude behaviour’ of staff with patient’s attendants

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 25

The authorities at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital have ordered an inquiry into the alleged incident of rude behaviour by medical staff with the attendants of a patient in the emergency ward here on Sunday.

The family members of the patient, Jagir Singh, who was injured in a road accident, had accused doctors of rude behaviour instead of providing medical care to the injured. His sister said the doctors had behaved rudely when she went to enquire about why her brother had not been provided medical care.

Even security in-charge Joginder Singh at Government Medical College complained that the doctors were rude to him when he intervened on behalf of the patient. He said when he told the doctors that he was there for their security, the doctors said that they did not need it.

Even as incidents of manhandling of doctors by attendants of patients are reported frequently, the rudeness of doctors, which according to some senior faculty members is a result of long duty hours and poor working conditions, often becomes a trigger.

“Junior residents have to do most of the work and do not get any appreciation. Most of them develop such a rude behaviour and it is cause of concern as the patient-doctor relationship is very important for effective treatment,” said a faculty member.

However, another employee at the emergency block, said, “The attendants of the patient were not available with the patient. As the patient required some tests for which they were to accompany the patient, the treatment could not be started. When the attendants came, they accused the doctors of not providing treatment and it resulted in an argument.” The hospital authorities said the doctors had been asked to explain to the medical superintendent about the incident.