A patient was arrested on Sunday for allegedly molesting a nurse at a government hospital in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, according to reports. The incident occurred while the nurse was administering a saline drip to the patient, who had been admitted with a high fever.
The nurse, in her complaint, alleged that the patient inappropriately touched her and used offensive language during the procedure. Despite attempts by hospital staff to manage the situation, the patient continued to act violently, leading the nurse to file a complaint at the Ilambazar police station.
“A man who came in with high fever late on Saturday night tried to outrage the modesty of an on-duty nurse at Illambazar Block Hospital. The hospital authorities immediately informed the police, who arrested him and sent him to Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital for treatment,” said Himadri Ari, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), Birbhum.
This incident follows closely on the heels of the tragic rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, raising concerns about the safety of medical professionals in the state. On Sunday, doctors and healthcare staff at the hospital held a rally demanding round-the-clock security for medical personnel. A nurse who participated in the rally stated, “Despite the RG Kar incident, not much has changed regarding our security.”