Doctors Assaulted at Mumbai Hospital, Resident Doctors Declare Mass Casual Leave
Mumbai, India – Doctors at Cooper Hospital in Juhu, Mumbai, were assaulted by a patient’s son yesterday following the patient’s death, prompting resident doctors and interns to begin a mass casual leave in protest.
The incident occurred late Friday night after Sajeeda Shaikh, 57, was pronounced dead after being brought to the casualty department in critical condition. According to the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI), Shaikh’s son, Samir Abdul Jabbar Shaikh, became aggressive and physically attacked Dr. Gaurav Anandgaonkar, an intern Dr. Prashant Bhadke, and resident Dr. Karan, who was injured while attempting to intervene. “CMO Dr Gaurav Anandgaonkar was struck multiple times on the face,” the ASMI stated. Juhu police have booked Shaikh for assault and threats but released him with a notice, citing his claim of medical negligence.
Hospital staff reported that Shaikh alleged delays in treatment contributed to his mother’s death, despite doctors’ attempts to revive her with CPR and ECG monitoring. Dr. Anandgaonkar stated in his complaint, “The treatment was started before the admission procedure… He kept threatening us with dire consequences if we could not revive his mother.” CCTV footage confirms the assault. This incident highlights a growing concern regarding the safety of medical professionals in India, where attacks on doctors have been on the rise in recent years. You can find more information about violence against healthcare workers from the World Health Organization.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Medical Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has demanded improved security measures, including the deployment of armed personnel at sensitive hospital locations, giving the BMC administration until 5pm on Monday to respond. If demands are not met, MARD has threatened a complete mass leave across all civic hospitals. The ongoing situation could significantly strain Mumbai’s public healthcare system. For more on the challenges facing healthcare in India, see reporting from The Hindu.
Authorities are investigating the incident and have assured a review of security protocols at Cooper Hospital.
