The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of Agartala Government Medical College and GB Pant Hospital has threatened to launch a pen-down strike from 9 am on Monday, demanding an impartial investigation into defamatory and malicious allegations leveled against a doctor.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has taken note of the protests taking place in the hospital ever since the incident occurred and said that he had instructed the concerned officials to take proper action.
The allegations were raised by a patient after a clinical examination at the Medicine OPD and later videos of the statements made by him circulated widely on the social media platforms.
The resident doctors of the hospital on Saturday organised a demonstration at the hospital premises to issue clarification on the matter and put forth their demands.
Speaking at the protest site, a member of the association outrightly rejected the allegations against the doctor and called for legal action against those responsible for recording and circulating the video. The body also demanded removal of what it described as unverified and defamatory content, and public corrections and apologies from media organisations and social media platforms that published such material.
“The patient had visited the Medicine OPD seeking treatment for prolonged urethral discharge. The doctor decided to conduct a physical examination, considering its importance in diagnosing sexually transmitted diseases, rather than relying solely on medication or investigations. The examination was conducted with the patient's consent and in accordance with prescribed protocols, with the doctor wearing gloves. The patient experienced a spontaneous erection followed by ejaculation during the examination,” the RDA representative said.
The doctor subsequently completed the examination, removed his gloves and provided the patient with a prescription and medicines, the association said.
The RDA further asserted that the doctor intended to take the patient to the Head of the Department of Medicine to address any concerns. However, the patient later returned to the OPD while the doctor was attending to another patient and allegedly accused him of tasting or ingesting his semen following the examination.
The doctor has denied the allegation.
The association has sought an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the video was recorded and circulated. It also called for an inquiry into whether anyone had encouraged the patient to record the video or provided him with media contacts.
The RDA said the circulation of the video and the allegations had affected the concerned doctor's personal and professional dignity and could undermine trust between patients and medical professionals.
It expressed concern that such incidents could discourage doctors from conducting physical examinations.
The association's demands include identifying the person who recorded and circulated the video, initiating appropriate legal proceedings, removing misleading or defamatory content from online platforms, and ensuring that such material is not recirculated.
It has also sought public clarifications, corrections, apologies and retractions from those who published information it considers unverified or defamatory.
Emphasising that it did not want to conceal the facts, the RDA called for an impartial investigation, maintaining that conclusions should not be drawn against the doctor on the basis of a video or one-sided allegations before the inquiry is completed.
The association said it would begin a pen-down strike at 9 am on Monday if prompt and satisfactory action was not taken on its demands.
“I have received a document regarding the protests and demands of the resident doctors. They have filed a case as well. I have already forwarded it to the secretary health department and instructed the concerned officials to take proper action. Appropriate measures will be undertaken pertaining to the issue,” said Dr Saha.