Neuroscience Hospital doctor allegedly assaulted, gets 'death threat'

A resident doctor at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital has allegedly been verbally abused and physically assaulted and also received death threat by Salahuddin, president of Dhaka North City unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and his associates.

After the incident, trainee and resident doctors have demanded justice and stronger protection for healthcare professionals. 

In a statement, the Bangladesh Society of Neurosurgeons (BSNS) strongly condemned the incident and called for exemplary punishment of those responsible under the law.

According to doctors, the incident took place on the afternoon of July 30 in Cabin No. 929 of the Purple Unit in the hospital's Neurosurgery Ward, where a patient was undergoing treatment. The patient had undergone surgery for a ruptured aneurysm 25 days ago and had spent 18 consecutive days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). 

Despite requiring ICU-level care due to his critical condition, the patient had reportedly been shifted to a cabin following pressure from family members.

When the patient's condition deteriorated later that afternoon with a fever of 102°F and oxygen saturation dropping to 92 per cent, duty resident physician Dr. Shubho Bonik immediately administered chest physiotherapy, oxygen support and nebulization, and informed the on-call consultant and the concerned unit. 

However, the patient could not be transferred back to the ICU immediately because no bed was available.

Doctors alleged that shortly afterward, Dr. Bonik received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller identified himself as Salahuddin, president of Dhaka North City JCD, and allegedly used abusive language while threatening the doctor.

According to the complaint, the caller said, ''Who do you think you are? I can produce doctors like you every hour. You are a Hindu, you are a fascist... Call your father, let's see who can save you.''

Later, when Dr. Bonik went to the cabin block accompanied by Assistant Professor Dr. Nur Mohammad to explain the situation, Salahuddin and his associates allegedly became aggressive.

Doctors alleged that Dr. Bonik was grabbed by the collar, pushed, physically assaulted, and forced to apologize by holding the attackers' feet. Assistant Professor Dr. Nur Mohammad, who tried to intervene, was also allegedly harassed. Fearing for their safety, the two doctors reportedly fled the scene and took shelter inside the hospital's operation theatre.

Following the incident, trainee doctors alleged that instead of standing by the resident physicians, several senior doctors attempted to suppress the matter and discouraged them from speaking about it on social media.

They also alleged that BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Rafiqul Rahman visited the hospital and advised settling the matter without pursuing legal action or disciplinary measures. Trainee doctors also expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the hospital administration.

In a separate allegation, doctors claimed that Dr. Saba, who protested the incident on social media, was subjected to derogatory remarks by an ICU consultant, who also allegedly threatened other doctors.

Responding to the allegations, Prof. Nuruzzaman, Director of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, said to media that the incident stemmed from 'a misunderstanding' and that a probe committee had been formed.

"We are trying to resolve the issue. A committee has been formed today to investigate the matter. It is more or less settled. We will proceed based on the committee's findings," he said.

The director further said that relatives of critically ill patients often become emotionally distressed.

"If someone's father is critically ill and at the brink of death, it is natural for that person to behave differently. That is true for all of us. What happened with the doctor was completely unexpected and undesirable. We have already held discussions with the affected doctors. Later, we will also call the accused individuals and try to reach a settlement. It was a small incident; there was no major problem," he added.

When tried to contact with the accused JCD leader Salahuddin over phone, his mobile phone was found switched off.