The incident occurred on 22/12/2024, in the Pulmonary Department at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital in Shimla, India. A video, recorded by a family member, shows 31-year-old senior resident doctor Raghav Narula repeatedly punching 36-year-old patient Arjun Singh, who was lying in bed. Another medical staff member was seen holding the patient's legs during the altercation.
The disagreement stemmed from how doctor Narula addressed Singh. Singh, who had just undergone a bronchoscopy and was experiencing shortness of breath, stated that Narula used the word "tu"—a casual, disrespectful term in Hindi—when asking to see his medical records.
"He asked for the records rudely, and when I protested, I was assaulted right there in my hospital bed," Singh said.
Resident doctor Raghav Narula assaults a 36-year-old patient in the Pulmonary Department, Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital (Shimla) on 22/12/2024. *Source: International Relations*.
Conversely, doctor Narula claimed the viral video did not fully reflect the events. He stated that the patient had verbally abused him and acted aggressively first, causing him to lose his composure.
Due to public pressure, the Himachal Pradesh state government immediately suspended doctor Narula and transferred him to the Department of Medical Education for investigation. In addition to facing potential job loss, he was also charged by Shimla police under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) criminal code.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu declared the doctor's behavior "unacceptable." He highlighted government efforts to improve medical staff welfare, including reducing duty hours from 48 to 12 and increasing allowances to 130,000 rupees (approximately 38 million VND). He stressed that doctors must maintain professional conduct with patients.
The incident sparked a wave of debate within the medical community. The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), along with several other major medical organizations, voiced support for a strike, demanding doctor Narula's reinstatement. These organizations argued that the decision to dismiss him was overly harsh and unfair.
The association cited internal investigation results indicating fault on both sides. They suggested prosecuting individuals who threatened the doctor and damaged hospital property during the chaos. The RDA also called on authorities to review security vulnerabilities and install more surveillance cameras in treatment areas.
To prevent similar incidents, the state government is developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to limit the number of family members in specialized areas and enhance communication skills training for resident doctors.
Minh Phuong (According to Hindustan Times)
