"Who Do You Think You Are?" Patient's Son Assaults Doctor In Thane

A second instance of an attack on a doctor in Maharashtra has been reported weeks after a doctor was assaulted by a Shiv Sena corporator. The latest incident took place at a private hospital in Kalyan. 

Dr Yogendra Jaiswal, who is an orthopaedist, was verbally abused and beaten up by the son of a patient after he objected to the latter's informal speech. A police case has been registered but no arrest has been made yet.

The assault took place around 11 pm on Saturday night when the doctor was examining a patient. 

"I was examining a patient named Jaywant Deshmukh, who had a rib fracture. I explained the entire procedure to him - how the bandage should be applied and how the medication should be taken. However, his son kept asking the same question repeatedly and addressed me using disrespectful, informal language," Dr Yogendra Jaiswal told reporters. 

"When I asked him why he was addressing me so informally, he retorted, 'Who do you think you are - some big-shot doctor?' He then went outside and started hurling abuses at me. When I objected, he came back and started beating me," he added, demanding that strict action be taken against him immediately.

The incident, coming on the heels of the attack in Dombivili has caused consternation among doctors, who are seeking enhanced security. The medical community has questioned the government on how hospitals can continue to operate in such an environment. 

In early July, Shiv Sena corporator from Kalyan-Dombivli, Ramesh Mhatre, was caught on camera hitting a woman doctor. He and his supporters were then seen beating up other staff and nurses. The corporator denied that he had attacked the doctor and refused to apologise.

"We doctors spend years studying and working hard to save patients' lives, yet instead of appreciation, we are getting beaten up. This is absolutely wrong," said Dr Jaiswal, who is still in shock.