Himachal govt terminates IGMC doctor accused of assaulting patient

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has dismissed a senior resident doctor from the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla after an inquiry found him guilty of “misconduct”, “misbehaviour” and “acts unbecoming of a public servant” during a physical altercation with a patient earlier this week, officials said on Wednesday.

The action follows a widely circulated video showing the doctor punching a patient inside the pulmonary ward, triggering protests at the state-run hospital and prompting swift administrative intervention.

Inquiry finds both doctor and patient at fault

A committee constituted to investigate the confrontation, which unfolded on Monday, submitted its report to the Director of Medical Education and Research. The findings held both the patient, Arjun Singh, and the senior resident doctor, Raghav Narula, responsible for the clash.

According to the official order, “Both the patient and the senior resident doctor were responsible for the incident, which amounted to misconduct, misbehaviour, acts unbecoming of a public servant, and violation of the Resident Doctor Policy-2025.”

The order further stated that the services of Dr Raghav Narula, who was serving in the pulmonary medicine department, stand terminated with immediate effect under Clause 9 of the Resident Doctor Policy-2025.

Video sparks outrage; FIR filed

The confrontation escalated into a violent exchange, captured on a mobile phone video now viral on social media. The footage shows Narula striking Singh in the face, while Singh is seen attempting to kick the doctor.

Following the incident, Singh’s attendants lodged an FIR against the doctor. Narula had initially been placed under suspension on Monday evening based on a preliminary report.

Patient, doctor present conflicting accounts

Arjun Singh, who works as a teacher at a private academy in Shimla and had visited the hospital for a bronchoscopy, said the trouble began when the doctor addressed him as "tu" instead of "tum", which he claimed was disrespectful and provoked the exchange.

He said he had been experiencing breathlessness after the procedure and objected to the doctor’s tone. Singh alleged the doctor became “aggressive” after the objection.

Narula, on the other hand, asserted that the patient had provoked the fight by using abusive language directed at him and his family. He claimed the viral video did not reflect the complete sequence of events, insisting that only a “partial truth” had been circulated.

Hospital tension and calls for accountability

The altercation triggered a protest at IGMC on Monday, with the patient’s relatives and other patients demanding the doctor’s arrest. Police personnel were deployed to defuse the situation.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Shimla Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers (SAMDCOT) called for a fair and transparent investigation. The association also warned of a statewide agitation if those accused of inciting the crowd were not held accountable.

In a statement, the group said, “Harassment, threats, misinformation and unsafe working conditions are forcing doctors to take collective action to protect their safety and dignity, which ultimately impacts patient care,” while emphasising that hospitals must remain safe for both healthcare workers and patients.

(With inputs from PTI)