A single day of the absence of as many as 800 resident doctors severely paralysed the normal OPD functioning at the institute. All the scheduled surgeries were cancelled as most of the rooms of the senior residents remained locked in the OPD block. The senior faculty too attended far lesser number of patients than the usual days. It was only the emergency and the ICU services were not affected during the day.

After the late evening meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Dr Prabhu Shanker, president of the association, said, “In the larger interest of patients, we have decided to abort the strike and resume work from Sunday. The director has promised us that the matter will be taken up at the level of the health minister.”

Despite a written apology by the consultant, the residents want the matter to be taken to the Health Minister for a disciplinary action. They are also seeking a public apology from him.

The incident occurred when Dr Sanand Kumar, senior resident, Urology, was allegedly assaulted and abused by Dr Santhosh Kumar, assistant professor of the same department, in front of the hospital staff. The tiff began after Dr Santhosh found his patient was listed number two by the resident doctor in the operation theatre list for the day even as he had wanted him to be on the number one slot. Reportedly, the professor lost his cool and the abused the senior resident for making the change without telling him.

The three-member committee comprising Dean Prof V Sakhuja, Sub Dean Prof Amod Gupta and Prof Savita Malhotra of the Department of Psychiatry was appointed to inquire into the matter. Dr Santhosh was found guilty of using unparliamentary language in the heat of the moment and was asked to proceed on leave.

“We have examined the case closely. The consultant has admitted that he misbehaved in a fit of rage and has now tendered his unconditional apology in the writing. He even went to the Dr Sanand Kumar’s hostel to aplogise but the resident doctor was not there,” said Prof Amod Gupta.

Doctor speak: Dr Santhosh Kumar said: “I reacted in the heat of the moment. My conduct was not for my individual gain but out of my concern for my patient. Unfortunately, it is the chief senior resident who makes the list of the operation theatre cases without even consulting the senior faculty. Even in the past, such lack of communication and lack of system has led to tussle and arguments between the senior residents and the consultants. I had earlier also informed the head of the department about the problem, but to no avail. That’s the reason I felt even more suffocated and acted in rage. In any case, I have explained everything to the hospital administration and tendered my unconditional apologies to the director in the writing. I will follow what the hospital administration decides.”