Reported by: Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Resident doctors of Tripura’s Agartala Government Medical College and GB Pant Hospital have threatened to observe a pen-down strike from 9 am on Monday, seeking an impartial inquiry into allegations made against a doctor following a clinical examination at the hospital.
GB Pant Hospital is the prime referral hospital of Tripura.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said he had taken note of the matter and directed the Health Department to take appropriate action.
The issue arose after a patient made allegations against the doctor following a consultation at the Medicine OPD. A video containing the patient’s statements was subsequently circulated on social media.
The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) held a demonstration on the hospital premises on Saturday, seeking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the circulation of the video.
The association rejected the allegations against the doctor and said the clinical examination had been conducted with the patient’s consent and in accordance with medical protocols.
According to the RDA, the patient had approached the Medicine OPD for treatment of prolonged urethral discharge. The doctor conducted a physical examination as part of the diagnostic process, during which the patient experienced a spontaneous erection followed by ejaculation, the association claimed.
The RDA said the doctor thereafter completed the examination, removed the gloves and prescribed medicines. It alleged that the patient subsequently returned to the OPD while the doctor was examining another patient and made further allegations against him.
The doctor has denied the allegations.
The association demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident, including the recording and circulation of the video. It also sought an investigation into whether anyone had prompted the patient to record the video or facilitated contact with media organisations.
The RDA said the circulation of the allegations had affected the doctor’s personal and professional dignity and expressed concern that such incidents could discourage medical professionals from conducting necessary physical examinations.
It demanded the identification of those responsible for recording and circulating the video, appropriate legal action, removal of content it considers defamatory or misleading, and corrections or retractions from organisations that published unverified material.
The association said it was not seeking to suppress facts and wanted the matter to be examined impartially before any conclusion was reached.
Saha said he had received a document outlining the resident doctors’ concerns and demands.
“I have already forwarded it to the secretary, Health Department, and instructed the concerned officials to take proper action. Appropriate measures will be undertaken pertaining to the issue,” he said.
The RDA said it would proceed with the pen-down strike from Monday if it did not receive prompt and satisfactory action on its demands.
The video in question had already been blocked on social media platforms and was no longer available online.
The video primarily contained the patient’s statement, in which he alleged misconduct and a breach of his privacy. It also showed pictures of the doctor who was on duty at the hospital.
The resident doctors also opposed unauthorised videography inside the hospital premises, which could lead to violations of the privacy of other patients who arrived at the hospital.