The Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD) and Forest, Ecology and Environment and Bidar district in-charge Minister Eshwar B. Khandre have strongly condemned the alleged assault of a resident doctor at Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS) and urged the State government to ensure better security for doctors working in government hospitals.

In a letter addressed to the Director of Medical Education on Friday, KARD stated that Tukaram, a 28-year-old orthopaedic resident doctor at BRIMS, was allegedly assaulted while attending to an injured patient in the casualty ward around 1 a.m. on Friday.

According to the association, a group of patient attendants and relatives allegedly entered the casualty area, abused the doctor, threatened him, obstructed his official duty and physically assaulted him by punching and kicking him.

“Such incidents severely affect the safety, morale and functioning of resident doctors who render emergency services under stressful circumstances and also compromise patient care delivery in government hospitals,” the KARD said.

The association urged the Department of Medical Education to provide immediate protection and adequate security for doctors and healthcare staff at BRIMS, particularly in casualty and emergency wards, and sought strict legal action against the accused under the Karnataka Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act and other applicable laws.

“KARD stands in solidarity with Dr. Tukaram and the resident doctors of BRIMS, Bidar, and urges the administration to take urgent and decisive action to prevent recurrence of such incidents,” the letter stated.

In a statement issued on Friday, Mr. Khandre said no one should be allowed to take the law into their own hands and observed that such incidents would adversely affect the morale of doctors.

He instructed the district administration and the police to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, initiate stringent action against the accused and strengthen security arrangements at the district hospital.