The case of extorting Rs. 5 lakh from a doctor has heated up despite saving the patient’s life, as farmer groups supported the doctor in his dispute with extortion. Over half a dozen organizations, including IMA, stated during a press conference that if the administration overlooks forced collections, they won’t step back from taking to the streets along with IMA.
The incident revolves around a cancer patient who underwent treatment for three and a half months at Punjab Cancer Hospital, where the patient’s family allegedly pressured the doctor into paying Rs. 5 lakh at a private hospital. According to the patient’s family, their son did not have blood cancer; it was confirmed by PGIMER, Chandigarh. The doctor charged Rs. 11.50 lakh, including Rs. 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat, to save the patient’s life and avoid hospital damages as suggested by supporting doctors.
The doctor clarified that he never exploited his profession to extract money, solely aimed at saving the patient’s life and curing cancer. He further explained that the test reports were conducted at an international lab, confirming the blood cancer. Despite the family’s awareness of the diagnosis, and with PGIMER’s OPD report indicating blood cancer, they surrounded the doctor’s hospital, forcing him to pay Rs. 5 lakh under duress.
The business chamber president of Punjab, Amit Kapoor, sided with the doctor, mentioning several such instances of doctors being coerced for money. He urged for administration action against culprits as per the law and refund of the money. The doctors’ support rally was also attended by trade union leaders, expressing dismay that peace and law in Punjab are vanishing, leading to forced monetary demands from doctors. They emphasized that during the farmer’s agitation, businesses supported farmers, and now farmers are troubling them.
The district president of the trade union, Jeevan Goyal, stressed that these illegal activities by farmers are intolerable now, mentioning that if all organizations don’t unite, such incidents will only increase. The president of the Goldsmith Association, Davjeet Mairee, expressed regret that doctors who serve people are subjected to such pressure for money, noting the pattern of similar cases where farmers gathered to demand payments even from small shop owners, with the administration turning a blind eye.