Doctor arrested for endangering lives of patients in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 17 (UNI) One of the three doctors, who allegedly endangered the lives of three patients by removing their ventilators, was arrested by the police today.

Officials said that three doctors entered the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the SMHS hospital and removed ventilators of three critically-ill patients after threatening other doctors, including the Head of the Department present in the ward.

Later, Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Waseem, on the recommendations of HoD of ICU ward, lodged FIR against the doctors for putting the lives of patients at risk.

Police arrested Dr Wasan and are looking for the two more accused.

Earlier, doctors went on lightening strike last night after an attendant of a woman patient from Ganderbal misbehaved with a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) after she died at 1930 hours.

The hospital authorities immediately lodged a report with the police and the assailant was arrested. However, the doctors continued their strike.

The CMO and some doctors, in the interest of patients, joined their duties, but a group of doctors threatened them to continue the strike, officials said.

Later, after three rounds of talks between the striking doctors and hospital authorities, it was agreed that doctors will resume duty after Friday prayers.

However the three doctors went inside the ICU and removed the ventilators of three seriously ill patients.

Describing the strike, ''illegal'' and without any justification after the assailant was arrested by the police, authorities have decided to take stern action against doctors who continue the strike.

UNI