Violent Altercation Rocks Bettiah Government Medical College Hospital
Tensions escalated dramatically at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah, West Champaran, on Wednesday night following a disturbing incident where intern doctors allegedly physically assaulted family members of a 56-year-old woman who had been brought to the facility deceased.
Social Media Video Fuels Controversy
A video capturing the violent scuffle has surfaced across various social media platforms, showing doctors throwing multiple punches at the patient's attendants. The graphic footage has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about medical ethics and patient rights in government healthcare facilities.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge from Both Sides
Hospital superintendent Dr Sudha Bharati provided the medical institution's perspective on the incident. She stated that Sushila Devi, a resident of Christian Quarter Mohalla in Bettiah, was already deceased when she arrived at the hospital. "The intern doctor merely removed the woman's oxygen mask, checked her pulse, and formally declared her dead," Dr Bharati explained. "A man accompanying the patient suddenly slapped the doctor, irrationally claiming that removing the mask caused her death. This argument quickly escalated into a physical altercation. Unfortunately, the video circulating online presents the situation in a misleading negative light."
Family's Version of Events
In stark contrast, the deceased woman's husband, Gyanprakash, offered a completely different narrative. "My wife had been receiving treatment in Patna, and we were returning home with our son," he recounted. "During our journey from Motihari to Bettiah, her condition suddenly worsened. We rushed her to the district hospital in Bettiah. During the examination, a doctor removed her oxygen mask and began conversing with other medical staff. My wife passed away during this time. When my son questioned why the mask had been removed, the doctors immediately started beating us. We were only rescued from the assault by other people present at the scene."
Demands for Investigation and Accountability
The grieving husband has demanded a thorough investigation into the entire matter and appropriate action against the doctors responsible for the alleged assault. This incident highlights several critical issues in India's healthcare system:
- Communication breakdowns between medical staff and patient families
- Violence against healthcare workers and violence by healthcare workers
- Transparency in medical procedures and death declarations
- Accountability mechanisms within government medical institutions
The Bettiah GMCH incident serves as a sobering reminder of the fragile doctor-patient relationship in India's often overburdened public healthcare system. As the video continues to circulate online, authorities face mounting pressure to conduct a fair investigation that addresses both the alleged medical negligence concerns and the physical violence that occurred within hospital premises.
