Video: Patient Grabs Female Doctor's Hair, Bangs Her Head Against Bed at Andhra Hospital

Tirupati: Amid the ongoing nationwide call for ensuring the safety of doctors following the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a woman junior doctor was brutally attacked by a patient at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) in Tirupati. 

The assault, captured by CCTV cameras, shows the attacker, identified as Bangaru Raju, grabbing the doctor by her hair and repeatedly banging her head against the steel frame of a hospital bed. Other doctors in the ward quickly intervened, overpowering the assailant.

A social media user who shared the video online and tagged the Andhra Pradesh police said, "Assault on ER intern at SVIMS Tirupati. Just look at the audacity of the man trying to grab the female doctor in front of everyone. This is exactly why doctors are demanding Central protection act!"

In a letter to SVIMS director-cum-vice-chancellor Dr. RV Kumar, the intern described the incident, expressing her shock at the absence of security personnel during the attack. "...I was unexpectedly attacked by a patient, Bangaru Raju, who approached me from behind, pulled my hair, and began forcibly banging my head against the steel rod of a cot," she wrote, adding that the situation could have escalated dangerously had the attacker been armed with a sharp weapon. She called for immediate security measures to ensure the safety of hospital staff.

Following the incident, doctors at SVIMS staged a protest, demanding stronger safety protocols in their workplace. This attack comes in the wake of massive protests across the country, where doctors are urging for a central law to protect them from violence, particularly in light of the recent tragedy in Kolkata.

The Supreme Court has responded by forming a 10-member National Task Force to develop strategies to prevent violence against healthcare workers and ensure safe working conditions. The task force is expected to create an action plan addressing gender-based violence and ensuring a dignified working environment for doctors.

This latest incident at SVIMS highlights the ongoing concerns over workplace safety for healthcare professionals, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to protect those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.