Resident doctor loses job over patient brawl caught on camera at Himachal hospital

The Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH) in Shimla has terminated the services of a senior resident doctor who allegedly got into a brawl with a patient earlier this week. The hospital had earlier suspended the doctor after a video of the incident went viral on social media. 

The hospital had constituted a disciplinary inquiry committee following the incident, and action was taken based on the probe report, authorities said. As per the order from the hospital, it found both the doctor and the patient responsible for the brawl. 

Raghav Narula, a senior resident doctor at the hospital, allegedly assaulted a patient Arjun Singh, a resident of Kupvi in Shimla, on December 22. Singh had visited the hospital reportedly to undergo bronchoscopy. However, a video went viral in which the doctor is seen assaulting the patient. The video showed the doctor throwing multiple punches on the face of the patient, Arjun Singh.

Narula was immediately placed under suspension following the incident. The probe committee found both the patient and the senior resident are responsible for the incident, "which amounts to misconduct, misbehaviour, acts of commission and unbecoming of a public servant and the violation of Resident Doctor Policy 2025."

Singh's kin have registered a complaint with the police against Dr Narula, and a probe is underway. Meanwhile, the doctor alleged that the patient had instigated him and used abusive language against him.