Junior doctor's strike continues

Srinagar, Aug 18 (UNI) Strike by junior doctors continued for the second day today in the SMHS hospital here in protest against the arrest of three doctors who had allegedly endangered the lives of three patients by removing their ventilators.

Police last evening arrested the three doctors who had allegedly removed the ventilators of three patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the SMHS hospital after forcibly entering the ward.

Only a group of junior doctors in the SMHS hospital went on strike while work in other hospitals was normal.

Police action came after Medical Superintendent of the hospital on the recommendations of Head of the Department (HoD) of ICU ward, lodged an FIR against the doctors for putting the lives of the patients at risk.

Doctors went on lightning strike on the intervening night of August 16/17 after an attendant of a woman patient from Ganderbal misbehaved with a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) after the patient died at 1930 hrs.

However, the assailant was arrested after the hospital authorities lodged a report in the police station. However, the doctors continued their strike.

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

The doctors agreed to resume duty after Friday prayers after three rounds of talks between the striking medicos and hospital authorities.

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

Describing the strike as ''illegal'' and without justification as the assailants had been arrested by the police, authorities have decided to take stern action against doctors who continued the strike.

UNI