Bhubaneswar: Tension erupted at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, on Saturday after relatives of a patient allegedly assaulted doctors following his death. Police reached the spot after the incident and arrested three relatives for questioning.The 36-year-old patient from Ogalapada on the outskirts of the city had allegedly consumed poison, and was admitted to the hospital on June 24.Inspector in charge of Khandagiri police station Abhimanyu Das said the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, authorities have lodged an FIR in the case. “We have arrested three people in connection with the incident. An investigation is underway,” he said.The alleged attack on the doctors took place around 10.30am after the patient died. Around five relatives allegedly argued with an intern doctor and other hospital staff in the medicine ward, accusing them of negligence in treatment. During the argument, the group allegedly turned violent and attacked two intern doctors.According to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, the patient had allegedly consumed around 10 grams of poison at his residence in Ogalapada around 4pm on June 24, reportedly under the influence of alcohol.“He was brought to the emergency department of the AIIMS at 5.25pm the same day in a critical condition. He was immediately attended to by the emergency medical team, stabilised and provided with all necessary emergency interventions. Thereafter, he was shifted to the medicine ward, where he continued to receive treatment, strictly in accordance with established standard protocols,” the hospital said in a statement.On Saturday, the patient’s condition suddenly deteriorated. The treating doctors and nursing staff initiated life-saving resuscitative measures after informing the family about his critical condition and the associated risks. Despite efforts by the medical team, the patient could not be revived, and was declared dead, the statement said.Following his death, some of the patient’s relatives and associates allegedly turned violent and physically assaulted the duty doctors and nursing staff, the hospital said, terming it an unacceptable act of violence against healthcare professionals.“AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, categorically denies any allegation of negligence in the treatment of the patient. Every possible medical intervention was undertaken,” the statement said.AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, medical superintendent Dr Prabhas Ranjan Tripathy strongly condemned the attack. “Violence against doctors and healthcare workers is completely unacceptable, and cannot be justified under any circumstances. Our medical team made every possible effort to save the patient’s life. AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, stands firmly with its healthcare professionals, and will extend full cooperation to the investigating authorities to ensure that those responsible for this reprehensible act are brought to justice,” he said.
