Patient slapped, driven out of hospital
Two brain tumour patients were "forcibly" released from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) immediately after they had a quarrel with the ward boy yesterday.
Attendants of the patients said they were denied entry into the hospital since the incident, which had occurred at around 8:30am. The patients were released afterwards.
Bazlur Rahman, 30, a convener of Awami Swheschchasebok League, said doctors released him even though he was repeatedly complaining about a bad headache.
The RMCH authorities also told the attendants of Bazlur and Sujayet Hossain, 75, a retired schoolteacher of Kushtia, the other patient, to take them to Dhaka.
The incident happened as Habibur Rahman, the ward boy, entered ward no-17 with breakfast for patients and started shouting at some patients who, having no beds, were sleeping on the floor and asked them to go out to the veranda, saying that the doctors would come to visit the patients.
Habib also hurled abuse at the female attendant of Sujayet, as she hesitated to wake up her patient. The ward boy then kicked a bed, causing injuries to Sujayet's forehead. Habib also dragged the patient out of the ward and locked the door from inside.
The behaviour led to an altercation between the attendants of the patients and Habib and drew police into the scene.
Habib also quarrelled with Shapla Khatun, wife of Bazlur Rahman, over cleaning the bedside table. As Bazlur awoke due to shouting and protested Habib's behaviour, the ward boy slapped the patient and started beating him. He also dragged Bazlur out of the ward.
Shapla said, "The incident occurred before the police, yet the police took both Habib and Bazlur to the hospital police box". Sub-inspector Pijush Kanti said they took both the patient and the ward boy to the box to ease tension inside the hospital.
Contacted, RMCH Director Brig Gen Muhammad Moinuddin said Habib was rebuked and transferred to ward no-2. He said the incident had resulted from "misunderstanding".
Asked if the authorities were considering any legal action against the ward boy, he replied in the negative. He also said he was not aware of the denial of treatment and release of the patients.
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