A nurse working at the Ilambazar health center in West Bengal’s Birbhum district has accused a patient of molesting her while she was on duty. This incident comes amidst growing concerns about the safety of healthcare workers, following the recent rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
According to reports, the nurse was attending to a patient in the emergency department when the alleged incident occurred. The patient, identified as Abbas Uddin, was brought to the health center on a stretcher due to high fever. While the nurse was administering a saline drip, Uddin reportedly began misbehaving and touched her inappropriately in her private parts. The nurse stated that Uddin also hurled verbal abuse at her.
Dr. Masidul Hasan, who was on duty at the health center during the incident, corroborated the nurse’s account. He stated that Uddin had been exhibiting erratic behavior since his arrival and continued to misbehave even after receiving medical advice.
The nurse, highlighting the lack of security at the health center, expressed her concern about the incident. She questioned how a patient could dare to assault someone on duty in the presence of his family members, who did nothing to intervene.
The health center staff reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused patient. A written complaint was lodged with the Ilambazar Police Station, and an investigation is currently underway.
This incident underscores the need for greater security measures and safety protocols within healthcare facilities to protect medical professionals from such attacks. The incident has also sparked outrage and calls for stricter action against those who commit such offenses against healthcare workers.
