PANAJI
An on-duty doctor at Goa Medical College was allegedly assaulted and abused by two women, prompting a police case. Zinia Fernandes, a resident of Mapusa and another unidentified woman are charged with assaulting Dr Shubham Prabhudesai while he was attending to patients in ward number 142.
The Agassaim police stated that lack of communication about the treatment of Zinia’s father, who was admitted to the ward, was the cause for assault. “The women confronted the doctors asking what medication was given to the patient as there were certain problems. One of them pulled his shirt and hand, and another gestured to hit him with slippers. A complaint was subsequently filed and registered,” the police said.
The women are booked under sections 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 352 (assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation), 186 (obstructing public servant in the discharge of his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty read with 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code. No arrests were made.
In 2019, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had sought for stringent laws to protect doctors and other medical staff against violence, in response to nationwide protest by doctors against assault on doctors in West Bengal.
Around two years ago, a senior doctor at Porvorim was assaulted. The alleged assailant had surrendered to the police after pressure from the doctors who launched a protest demanding quick action.
