Admin
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Admin | Updated : September 11, 2012 8:01 AM IST
With the number of cases of aggrieved patients' families attacking doctors on the rise, hospitals have started hiring bouncers to keep the pieace. "These guys look like they walked right out of an action movie," said Pawan Desai, who brought his 4-year-old daughter to Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital for treatment for a cut on her hand. In April, a week before DDU hired the bouncers, some bereaved friends of an patient ransacked the emergency room. The DDU used to face nearly one attack a month but haven't had any trouble since they replaced their older security guards with bar bouncers.
"These guys do a good job controlling the crowds," said Dr Nitin Seth. Thousands of attacks occur in Indian hospitals every year, said Dr Narendra Saini, spokesman for the Indian Medical Association. The DDU Hospital guards, a team of 21 split across three shifts, cover the busiest areas of the campus, especially the emergency and labour rooms.
People who come in with pregnant or trauma patients "are most likely to lose their cool," Kumar said. "That's why we try not to let in more than one per patient." The only way to prevent a bad situation from getting worse is to keep people moving and not let crowds collect at all, said Dr Promila Gupta, the hospital's medical superintendent. "I think what works for our new guards is that the relatives are afraid of them because of their good physique," she said. Despite the tough image, the guards are a soft-spoken bunch. "We don't let anyone in unless they need to be there, and we know how to be polite about it," he said. "First we talk nice," said bouncer Amarjeet Singh.
"If they don't listen, troublemakers are taken to the Casualty Medical Officer's room to sort things out, and if that doesn't work, police from the nearby post are called in to get them evicted. "In any case, we are not allowed to rough anyone up," he added. Sadly very few hospitals can afford this kind of security and serving as a doctor in government hospitals remains one of the most dangerous professions in the country.
