Cardiologist Mobbed After Patient’s Death: Public Outcry and Police Inaction in Spotlight

A senior cardiologist's recent post on X (formerly Twitter) went viral as he recounted a distressing experience involving a violent attack by a mob. According to the doctor, after treating a critically ill patient all day, he and his staff were attacked by a group of around 20 to 30 people following the patient’s death. The situation worsened when, instead of assistance, the police allegedly pressured him to delete his post and discouraged him from filing an FIR.

The doctor posted the details of the incident on November 1, 2024, describing how a 61-year-old male patient was brought to him in critical condition after suffering a massive heart attack earlier that morning. The patient’s condition was critical; his blood pressure was unrecordable, and the doctor had to perform emergency angioplasty and stenting. Despite his efforts and constant communication with the patient’s family throughout the day, the patient did not survive. Following the patient's death, the doctor recounted how a mob, reportedly inebriated, attacked him and his staff, demanding a refund for the treatment, even though they had paid only a portion of the expenses.

“Hosp mgmt called police (Avalahalli, Bangalore); police response pathetic—pacifying miscreants & watching RMO manhandled, mob threatening to kill me & demanding refund of payment!” the doctor wrote, highlighting that the total treatment cost exceeded twice the advance payment made by the family. According to the doctor, the police took no action to control the mob, which resulted in the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) being physically assaulted.

The doctor’s frustration extended to the behavior of the police, alleging that the inspector of the Avalahalli Police Station attempted to coerce him into removing his post and not filing an official complaint. The doctor voiced his dismay, suggesting that such police behavior may be routine, aimed at avoiding the effort involved in investigation and arrests. He added, "CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS - Inspector of police - Avalahalli police station - pressurising to delete post in X and not to register an FIR!! Only he knows the reason."

The physician, who has been in practice since 1992, expressed a desire to leave the medical field after the incident, questioning if his commitment to his patients and profession was worth the risk of mob violence. He noted that, despite existing laws intended to protect healthcare workers, these protections often only exist "on pen and paper."

Amid the public outcry on social media, his post garnered widespread attention, with over 6,61,000 views and thousands of shares. The response prompted the police to finally register his complaint, and the Commissioner of Health Services requested a full report. Additionally, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Cardiologists’ Society of India (CSI) intervened, planning to escalate the issue to Karnataka’s Home Minister.

The physician later posted that despite these actions, no substantial steps had been taken, even though the hospital had provided a detailed complaint and CCTV footage. This statement has highlighted systemic issues in law enforcement and the healthcare sector’s vulnerability to violence.

Another user on X suggested that lingering anger among the public, particularly over perceived medical profiteering during the COVID-19 pandemic, may fuel such incidents. The user alleged that hospitals had exploited patients during the pandemic, often overcharging and leaving families bankrupt while keeping deceased patients on ventilators to drive up bills.

The doctor responded, disagreeing with these views and noting that unfairly attributing unethical behavior to all doctors was “inappropriate.” He emphasized that he had spent Diwali Day and his birthday at the hospital, dedicating himself to saving a life rather than celebrating with family and friends. He wrote, "Just because of some people being unethical, U can't paint majority of sincere doctors toiling to save a life...with the same brush."

Further addressing comments about the "corporate culture" in medicine, the doctor defended his actions, explaining that he and his team had done everything possible but were attacked simply because the patient did not survive. "The excuses put forward r 'they were emotional' 'they were inebriated' 'they r illiterate'—does any right-thinking person agree that any of the above justifies beating up 6 health care professionals doing their duty on Diwali day?" he wrote, condemning the violence.

This incident has not only prompted discussions on the precariousness of the healthcare profession but also underscored the need for reform to protect medical staff from such attacks. With the support of professional organizations like the IMA, many online hope that this event will lead to substantial change and enhanced protections for those who dedicate their lives to patient care.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)