Tissa hospital doc under fire for ‘misbehaviour with woman’
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Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only BenefitsA doctor posted at the Civil Hospital, Tissa, in Chamba district has been accused of misbehaving with a woman, who had brought her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter for treatment. The incident sparked outrage on social media, prompting the local MLA and the district health authorities to take swift action.
In a video posted on social media last night, the woman alleged that she had visited the Tissa hospital around 11:30 pm on Monday for the treatment of her daughter, who was suffering from an infection in her private parts. However, the doctor was not present in the hospital at that time. When the nurse on duty contacted him over the phone, he reportedly prescribed some medicines and advised the woman to bring the child to the OPD the following day.
However, the woman insisted on the doctor’s immediate presence alleging that he made a highly objectionable remark about her daughter. Distressed by his response, the woman recorded a video narrating her ordeal and demanded strict action against the doctor, who is reportedly a local resident.
The video soon went viral, drawing widespread condemnation. Local MLA Hans Raj visited the Tissa Civil Hospital today morning and summoned the doctor in the presence of the Block Medical Officer. He asked the doctor to explain his “unacceptable behaviour, which is unbecoming of a medical professional”.
Hans Raj said that this was not the first complaint against the doctor. “I have received several similar complaints from people in the past. Such behaviour cannot be tolerated. I will recommend the government to take strict disciplinary action,” he added.
The MLA also directed the doctor to submit a written apology to the woman and assured the “victim” that the matter would be pursued to its logical conclusion. Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chamba, Dr Bipen Thakur constituted a committee to conduct a detailed probe. The panel includes a block medical officer and two doctors from hospitals other than the Tissa hospital to ensure impartiality.
“The inquiry team has been instructed to examine all aspects of the incident and verify the authenticity of the woman’s allegations,” Dr Thakur said. He added that the committee would submit its detailed report within three days. Meanwhile, Chamba Additional SP Hitesh Lakhanpal said the woman had filed a written complaint at Tissa police station and a probe into the incident was underway.
“We have called the complainant, the doctor and the witnesses to the police station to record their statements,” he added.