At least six people, including two physicians, were injured as relatives of a patient who died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) yesterday locked in an altercation with doctors alleging negligence of treatment.
Because of the altercation which occurred around 9:30am, all medical services came to a halt for about three hours.
Sources at the hospital said Rezaul Karim, 31, a rental motorcycle driver, from Patuakhali was admitted to the Orthopaedics unit of the SBMCH on May 15 after an injury from a collision with a tractor.
Although Rezaul’s condition was improving, he died around 9:20am on May 17.
“When we wanted to know the reasons behind his death and made allegations of negligence in treatment, the on-duty doctors assaulted us” alleged Mahmud Al Azad, a family member of the deceased, Rezaul.
In retaliation, the family members attacked the physicians, leaving four people and SBMCH assistant register Dr Shahidul Islam and Dr Morsheduddin injured.
Upon information, police rushed to the scene, neutralized the situation and handed over the body to Rezaul’s family.
Another family member of Rezaul’s, Kona Begum who was also injured in the altercation said “the doctors beat us mercilessly with cricket stumps and nobody dared save us.”
Later, the doctors locked the entrance gate of the unit so that the relatives could not take the body out.
Dr Moniruzzaman Shahin, assistant register of the unit, demanded punishment for the attackers in a press conference there.
Denying any negligence in treatment to Rezaul, Moniruzzaman claimed that sudden problems in Rezaul’s lung and heart led to respiratory problems that caused his death. A medical board has been formed after the incident which also confirmed the aforesaid problems, the registrar continued.
However, the family members turned down the doctors claim, saying if problems had developed, then why was Rezaul not transferred to the concerned department.
Dr. Qamrul Islam Selim, director SBMCH, said action in this regard would be taken after an investigation.
Mahmud Hossain, assistant commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan police, said additional policemen were deployed on the SBMCH campus and no side lodged any case in this connection.