Accused Doctor Says “Attempted to Flung Chair in Self-Defence”
Mubashir Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 16 (GNS): Two expecting women have alleged a Gynaecologist on duty at Community Health Centre Sumbal in Bandipora of ‘harrasment’ and ‘abusive behavior’ during their brief stay at the health facility on Saturday evening.
Attendants’ of one of the pregnant woman narrating the incident to GNS said that they had gone to the health facility for treatment this evening. “On reaching the health facility, a Doctor (Gynaecologist) Dr. Shabnam observed the patient and in the meantime we politely enquired about unavailability of power and water supply as the woman was expecting”, they said adding that “Little did we know what infuriated this Madam and she started to hurl abuses on us.”
Once asked for her ‘rude behavior’ with other patients around, the Doctor, as per the attendants, “went outrageous and tried to hurl a chair towards the woman which somehow was averted by timely intervention of other attendants present on the scene.”
Another expecting woman while testifying the statement of the prior victim said that she too was “harrassed and abused” by the alleged Gynaecologist.
“Upon knowing about the concerns’ raised by the prior victim, we even enquired about the same, however we also had to face wrath of Dr. Shabnam for the reasons known to her only”, she said.
Citing an eyewitness, the victims said that “Whatever they said can be independently confirmed from driver of vehicle, Mohammed Amin Pathan, through which one of the woman reached hospital.”
Deriding the ‘uncalled for and unreasonable attitude’ of the doctor on duty, the women demanded an independent enquiry into the whole episode even as urging the authorities concerned to put the “ill-tempered doctor to task”.
When contacted Gynaecologist Dr. Shabnam, the Gynacologist in question, about claims made by the patients, she maintained that it were the attendants only who ‘misbehaved’ with her first.
“The attendants and patients raised the issue of electricity and drinking water to which I asked them to resolve with the departments concerned”, she said adding that “It wasn’t ever her duty to what they were asking for.”
“Upon their insistence, I referred them to a tertiary Srinagar hospital for their best treatment”, she said adding “This referral thing again went well which led to verbal exchange between the two sides.”
Unwittingly admitting of the claims of patients and their attendants, the Gynaecologist said that “The attendants soon after tried to attack me and I did attempt to hurl chair towards one of them in my self-defense though.”
Meanwhile when contacted BMO Hajin Dr. Aijaz, told GNS that he has took notice of the incident and an enquiry will be initiated on a fastrack basis, “to bring fore the reality of what the patients and the alleged doctor have claimed.” (GNS)
