The pain which Indian families having a Covid patient have tobear is something only they can relate to.
Also, the medical infrastructure in India has been stretchedso thin that many Indians are breathing their last outside the hospitals waitingfor their turn.
It is under such intense pressure that some families snapand take out the frustrations being meted to them by the circumstances on thedoctors on duty.
Is this okay? What if some doctor ignites a protest whichculminates into a nation-wide protest?
Further, life is not a bed of roses for doctors and other frontlineworkers, right?
Yesterday, a family lost a family member who was infectedwith Covid 19 while waiting for bed. Mind you, this has been happening all overthe nation – such is the paucity of the medical infrastructure in the face ofsuch a juggernaut disease, Corona.
The family members’ anguish found an unhealthy outlet. Theyphysically beat the staff on duty. Thelast night’s incident happened at South Delhi’s Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. Theinjuries suffered by the hospital staff were minor.
The police claim that this is the first incident of thiskind in Delhi this year.
The video of the incident, shared on social media, is viraland showed blood on the floor, broken partitions, and furniture thrown aroundinside the hospital.
Consequently, the emergency department and the Covid triagearea had to be shut down for two hours.
The hospital’s statement reads, “The hospital received awoman in a critical condition at the emergency in the early hours of Tuesday.Immediate medical attention appropriate to her condition was given by a team.”
The statement continues, “Given the paucity of beds, thefamily was advised to shift the patient to another facility. Unfortunately, thepatient died around 8 am, following which her family members resorted tovandalism, destruction of hospital property and assault on our doctors andstaff.”
The statement empathised with the family members of the deceasedpatient but expressed shock at the behaviour of the family members.
The hospital is not pressing charges, “We understand thefamily is going through a lot. They have lost someone. We understand how theyare feeling. We didn't want to file a complaint...Our only appeal is thatplease appreciate we are doing the best. We need everyone's support.”
God forbid if the doctors of the nation snap and go on astrike.
What will happen to the number of deaths due to thepandemic, as horrendous they are right now, if some angry doctor instigates anation-wide protest?