In a latest update, the Kurla police station on Thursday, May 2, filed a case against a 16-year-old girl under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly slapping a nurse at a hospital in Mumbai.
The section is for assaulting or using illegal force to prevent a public servant from doing their duty. But no arrest has been made yet. The accused is a minor who is receiving medical treatment at another hospital.
On Wednesday night, May 1, a nurse named Mohini Matere was reportedly assaulted and verbally abused by a patient and her family at Khan Bahadur Bhabha Hospital in Kurla. In response to this, nurses from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-owned hospitals are now demanding better security for nurses.
The incident occurred when Matere, who was assigned to the female ward, noticed a number of relatives sitting on a patient bed. As per the rule, only one relative is allowed with the patient. She then asked the patient’s relatives to leave the room as it was time for cleaning. The nurse was also going to administer medications at that time. This led to an argument with the relatives.
The relatives then angrily left the room. Seeing this, the patient asked for an immediate discharge. After taking a discharge against medical advice (DAMA), the patient returned with her relatives to the ward and started attacking Matere verbally and physically.
The incident has led to fear among the nurses. They are now demanding action against the accused patient and increased security in hospital wards. They believe that the security in peripheral hospitals is not enough compared to the civic body's tertiary care facilities.
They have demanded the BMC make sure of their safety and prevent such incidents from happening again. The civic authority, represented by Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Sudhakar Shinde, is investigating the nurses' concerns.
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