JJ Hospital’s resident doctors go on strike after dead patient’s kin attack

Resident doctors at Sir JJ Hospital went on strike on Saturday to demand more security and an alarm system after relatives of a patient attacked the staff.

After Mumbra-resident Zaida Sanaullah Sheikh passed away, her kin attacked two doctors – Dr Atish Parikh suffered a facial fracture and a resident female doctor was mentally traumatised. A nurse was also allegedly manhandled, and the relative of another patient, who rushed to help the doctors, was beaten up.

"The patient was admitted for a gall bladder ailment but died before the operation," says Dr Amol Hegde, spokesperson for the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD).

"We have arrested four persons — Mohammed Shaikh, Sony Sanaullah, Rihan Sanaullah and Samila Sanaullah," said Senior Police inspector Shirish Gaikwad of JJ Marg police station.

After the incident, the hospital realised that the emergency alarm system – proposed two years ago and meant to alert security personnel – has not been installed.

"Security personnel are placed in sensitive wards such Casualty, Emergency and Trauma, but this attack clearly shows that General wards needs them too. Since the system does not require a tender process, it will be installed as soon as possible," said Dr Pravin Shingare, head of the directorate of Medical Education and Research.

He added that a review meeting, to see check whether there was any medical negligence, will also be set up. Shingare added that security systems at St George, Cama, Bhabha and GT Hospitals would also be reviewed.