An Indian doctor has come under intense public scrutiny after a disturbing video surfaced online showing him physically assaulting a seriously ill patient inside a hospital ward.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla, northern India. The doctor, whose name has not been officially released, is accused of attacking a patient who was lying on his hospital bed and struggling to breathe.
According to reports by Mail Online, the patient, identified as Arjun Panwar, had visited the hospital to undergo medical tests after experiencing severe breathing difficulties. He had recently undergone a bronchoscopy and was said to be in visible distress at the time of the altercation.
Mr Panwar alleged that the confrontation began after the doctor spoke to him rudely, without any apparent provocation. When he questioned the doctor’s manner of speaking and asked to be treated respectfully, the situation reportedly escalated.
“I had just undergone a bronchoscopy and was struggling to breathe. When I asked for oxygen, the doctor questioned my admission status,” Mr Panwar said.
He explained that his request for basic medical assistance was met with hostility, and when he challenged the doctor’s tone, the response became aggressive.
“I requested that he speak to me with respect, but he became confrontational,” he added.
According to the patient, the exchange took a violent turn after he questioned whether the doctor would speak to his own family in the same manner.
“When I asked if he spoke to his family in such a manner, he claimed I was getting ‘personal’ and began hitting me,” Mr Panwar said.
The video, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the doctor allegedly striking the patient while he lay helplessly on the hospital bed, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation.
Following the incident, tensions flared at the hospital as a large crowd gathered, demanding immediate action against the accused doctor. Protesters reportedly called for accountability, justice for the patient, and stricter oversight of medical professionals.
In response to the growing public anger, the Shimla IGMC hospital administration announced that it has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
Dr Rahul Rao, the Medical Superintendent of IGMC Shimla, confirmed that both internal and legal steps are being taken.
He said the committee has begun investigations and will submit its findings soon, adding that a police report has also been filed against the doctor involved.
The case has reignited conversations across India about patient rights, medical ethics, and abuse of power within healthcare institutions. Many have called for stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable patients, especially those who are critically ill and unable to defend themselves.
