Patient’s kin assaulted doctor, women security: Residents

With the emergency of the institute always short of beds and doctors, and patients being given treatment on trolleys and stretchers, the department is regarded as a high-tension zone for both patients and doctors.

PGIMER emergency department, punjab news, indian express

PGIMER’S emergency department is regarded as a high-tension zone for both patients and doctors; (below) altercation between a senior woman resident doctor and a kin of a patient. (Express Photo)

The emergency department of the PGIMER, Chandigarh came to a complete halt late on Monday, when an altercation between a senior woman resident doctor and a kin of a patient escalated into a physical fight.

With the emergency of the institute always short of beds and doctors, and patients being given treatment on trolleys and stretchers, the department is regarded as a high-tension zone for both patients and doctors.

According to a resident doctor, the attendant of a patient being treated here, started recording a video of a resident doctor, alleging that they were not being given adequate attention and care. When the senior resident doctor tried to stop her, the attendant twisted the doctor’s hand and also pushed the doctor, and security guards had to step in to manage the situation. Since the family members were women, female security guards were called in, but the patient’s relative got into a fight with the guard as well, creating a mayhem in the emergency, according to the resident doctor.

After this incident, resident doctors stopped working in the emergency and demanded strict action and registering of an FIR against the relative of the patient. With doctors refusing to return to work till action was taken, no new patients were being admitted to the emergency, with work suspended for more than two hours, and the security personnel not allowing any new patient to enter.

Later, a meeting was held by the Association of Resident Doctors. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, Sanjay Jain, Dean, Academics, and Medical Superintendent Vipin Koushal reached the Emergency to handle the situation and talk to the residents. As no new patients were being admitted, there was a long line of patients waiting outside, with a patient from New Chandigarh, who was on oxygen support, and in a critical condition had to wait to be put on ventilator support, and is now out of danger. “My father is having serious breathing issues, and we are here from Panchkula, and have been waiting outside for an hour, as the security people and police are not letting us in,” said Ramesh Sehgal.

After a long meeting between Lal and the resident doctors, work resumed in the emergency, at about 11.30 pm, while the rush outside the Emergency continued to grow.

A statement issued by the institute said that the emergency services have been restored and the incident reported to the PGI Police Post, Sector 12, with a request for filing an institutional FIR against the attendant of the patient.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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