Mangalore: Staff, students of Yenepoya University condemn assault on doctor
Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Feb 11: The doctors, staff and students of Yenepoya University on Tuesday February 11 rose in protest against the University management for not supporting their resident doctor who they claimed was falsely accused of sexually harassing a patient and then beaten up by a group.
Dr Niyaz, who is pursuing second year MD at Yenepoya hospital in Deralakatte was on Monday February 10 beaten up by a group of women and members of some organizations for allegedly sexually harassing a patient. He was later admitted to the same hospital. His colleagues and other staff and students claimed that he was falsely accused and had in fact stopped another person from recording video while he was examining an outpatient.
The students and staff who gathered in large numbers at the University premises at Deralakatte on Tuesday and expressed solidarity with Dr Niyaz. They condemned the assault on the doctor and urged the management to stand by him.
"This incident is an insult to the entire medical community. Doctors, stuednts and paramedical students should join hands to fight for justice for Dr Niyaz," the protestors said.
"The truth should be out and Dr Niyaz should get justice. Doctors should be treated with respect," said a lady doctor who was at the protest.
Explaining the incident to the media, Dr Prakash Harishchandra, colleague of Dr Niyaz, said, "A girl who was suffering from respiratory problems was shifted to the medicine unit for special examination by Dr Niyaz. During the examination, the girl complained of a blister on her chest. The doctor then used his stethoscope to examine the girl, who was fully clothed, when a person standing behind the doctor began to record video of her. When Dr Niyaz objected and tried to stop him, a group of strangers suddenly barged in and began to assault the doctor.
"As per medical laws, whenever a female patient is examined, another lady has to be present in the room. Kusuma, a nurse at the hospital was present in the room when Dr Niyaz was examining the girl. Kusuma was witness to the entire incident," he added.
"This was a pre-planned assault carried out with a vicious motive. This is a painful incident which has harmed the reputation of a good doctor. Not only did they file a complaint, they (assaulters) even caused him injuries on the face and head and gave him immense mental pain which has made it difficult for him to even move about. The situation is such that doctors are living in a state of anxiety and fear," Dr Harishchandra said.
Nurse Kusuma who was present at the protest said, "I was there when Dr Niyaz examined the patient. He was assualted by a group of unknown people when he tried to stop a person from recording the medical examination on video. There was absolutely no attempt to sexually harass the girl."