Slap therapy: Jaipur doctor shunted out

A government doctor who was caught on camera slapping a female patient and pulling her by hair at the Barmer district hospital was shunted out a day after the video went viral.

Senior medical officer of the district hospital in Barmer, Dr Surendra Kumar Bahri, was asked to await posting orders on Thursday. The action by the health department was followed up with the formation of a three-member committee to probe the matter. The committee submitted its report on Thursday.

On Wednesday, a woman was brought to the hospital by her family members as she was believed to be possessed by an evil spirit. The video shows Dr Surendra Kumar Bahri pulling the sleeping patient by her hair and then slapping her instead of using a medical procedure to treat the woman.

Though no formal complaint was lodged by her family members, the woman was later discharged after primary treatment. The family members, however, said the doctor slapped the patient to make her "curse free" as the patient was 'possessed'.

As soon as the news went viral, the directorate of medical and health, on Thursday, sought a report from the PMO of the district hospital. "A three member committee headed by deputy controller and two specialist doctors was formed that probed the matter on Thursday and has submitted its report," Dr Hemraj, PMO, Barmer district hospital told DNA. He, however, refused to divulge the committee's recommendation.