NewKerala.com

IGMC Doctors Welcome Revocation of Dr Nirula's Termination After Assault Row

The Resident Doctors Association of IGMC Shimla has welcomed the state government's decision to revoke the termination of Dr Raghav Nirula. His termination followed a viral video of a physical altercation with a patient, which led to doctor protests and an FIR. The matter was resolved after Dr Nirula and the patient mutually apologized. The RDA also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve hospital security to prevent future incidents.

Key Points: IGMC Doctors Welcome Revocation of Dr Nirula's Termination

  • Termination revoked after inquiry
  • Incident involved altercation with patient
  • Doctors had staged a protest strike
  • Mutual apology ended controversy
  • Hospital security review underway
2 min read

IGMC doctors welcome revocation of Dr Nirula's termination after assault row

IGMC Shimla doctors welcome the revocation of Dr Raghav Nirula's termination after a fair inquiry and mutual agreement with the patient.

"The Resident Doctors Association IGMC Shimla wholeheartedly welcomes the order revoking the termination of Dr Raghav Nirula after a fair and detailed inquiry - RDA Statement"

Shimla, January 9

The Resident Doctors Association of Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, on Friday welcomed the revocation of the termination of Dr Raghav Nirula, saying the decision came after a fair and in-depth inquiry, as assured earlier by the State government.

In a statement, the RDA expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for revoking the termination order.

"The Resident Doctors Association IGMC Shimla wholeheartedly welcomes the order revoking the termination of Dr Raghav Nirula after a fair and detailed inquiry, as assured to the RDA," the association said in its press statement.

The termination of Dr Nirula, a senior resident in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at IGMC, followed an incident on December 22 involving a 36-year-old patient, Arjun Pawar (also referred to as Arjun Panwar), a resident of Chopal. A video showing a physical altercation between the doctor and the patient had gone viral, following which the services of the doctor were terminated on grounds of "inappropriate behaviour."

The action had triggered protests, with doctors at IGMC proceeding on a three-day strike demanding revocation of the termination order. Meanwhile, Shimla police had registered an FIR against Dr Nirula at the Shimla Sadar police station under Sections 125(a), 115(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The controversy eventually ended on December 30, eight days after the incident, following a mutual agreement between Dr Nirula and the patient. Both parties apologised to each other and to the people of the state in the presence of the media, bringing the matter to a close.

The RDA also highlighted concerns over hospital security in its statement, noting that a security gap analysis of IGMC Shimla is currently underway. The association said measures such as the installation of panic buttons and the creation of an Emergency Security Response Team are being considered for the premier health institution.

The association said it hopes the steps will help prevent such incidents in future and ensure the safety of both doctors and patients at the hospital.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally some sense prevailed. Terminating a senior resident doctor over a single heated incident, which was later resolved mutually, was too harsh. Doctors work under immense pressure. The system needs to support them, not punish them instantly.
A
Aman W
While I'm glad the doctor got his job back, let's not forget the patient's side. A physical altercation in a hospital is unacceptable, no matter the provocation. Doctors must maintain professionalism. This sets a concerning precedent if we're not careful.
S
Sarah B
The three-day strike by doctors shows how united they were on this. It's good the CM listened. Hope the security upgrades happen quickly. Patients' families can be very aggressive, and doctors need a safe environment to work.
V
Vikram M
Mutual agreement and public apology - this is the Indian way to resolve conflicts. The legal FIR under BNS is still there though? The article doesn't clarify if that was withdrawn. That needs to be sorted for complete closure.
K
Karthik V
Good outcome. But the initial knee-jerk termination order was the problem. Authorities need proper protocols before taking such severe action against medical staff. A fair inquiry first, always. This was a learning experience for the administration.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50