Ahmedabad, Gujarat: A resident doctor at Sola Civil Hospital is facing backlash after a controversial video went viral from a patient’s guardian’s account.
A video has been circulating on the internet showing a female pediatric resident screaming at the guardians of a child patient, saying she had refused to provide treatment earlier. The child was suffering from a high fever.
The incident occurred on 26 October, Sunday, around 9 p.m. when Ajay Chavda brought his niece to the pediatric ward of Ahmedabad Sola Civil Hospital with concerns of high fever and difficulty in breathing.
Chavda said no doctors were present on duty to attend to the child initially. When the resident arrived, she behaved nonchalantly and rudely towards the child and the guardians.
The conflict began when the resident doctor commented sharply on the way a thermometer was placed over the child’s T-shirt. Chavda claimed the doctor spoke in a harsh tone, and when he asked her to soften it, she allegedly said, “this is how my voice is.”
As the argument escalated, Chavda started recording the entire incident.
The situation worsened when the resident refused to treat the suffering child. She shouted at the guardian, saying, “I will not treat the child. Go wherever you want, even to the Chief Minister.”
Shaken by the incident, the child’s family approached the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer. The officer intervened and ensured the girl received the medical attention she needed. To ease tensions, the officer reportedly asked the family to delete the video that captured the confrontation.
The video is being circulated online in massive numbers:
As the clip circulated online and public concern grew, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya ordered an immediate and transparent investigation.
“Any healthcare professional found guilty of misconduct will face strict action,” the minister said, urging that the inquiry remain fair to everyone involved.
Dr. Deepika Singhal, Medical Superintendent of Sola Civil Hospital, said a three-member inquiry committee chaired by her has been set up to review CCTV footage and record statements from both the doctor and the family.
“The doctor has claimed she was harassed by the family. We have temporarily moved her to the research wing during the inquiry,” Dr. Singhal said. She added that the resident doctor is currently under psychiatric care and may have reacted under severe stress.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)