Woman says sexually assaulted by Medanta Hospital staff while on ventilator, FIR lodged

In a statement, the hospital said it was cooperating with the investigation, and all relevant material, including CCTV footage, had been handed over to the police. It said “no allegations have been substantiated at this stage”.

According to the FIR, registered at the Sadar Police Station in the presence of a lawyer, the woman had come to Gurgaon for training and was staying at a hotel. She fell ill after almost drowning while swimming, and was admitted to a hospital for treatment. On April 5, her husband shifted her to Medanta for further care.

The woman has alleged that on April 6, while she was on a ventilator, a hospital staff member sexually assaulted her. She said she was unable to speak at the time because she was not fully conscious, and was frightened. She said two nurses were also present nearby.

After she was discharged on April 13, she informed her husband about the incident, and they then reported it to the police, according to the FIR.

The woman’s statement has been recorded before a magistrate and the police are reviewing CCTV footage from the hospital to identify the accused. A police spokesperson said an investigation was underway and the accused would be nabbed soon.

In a statement, Dr Sanjay Durani, Medical Superintendent at Medanta, said: “We have been made aware of a complaint from a patient and have been fully cooperating with the investigations conducted by the relevant authorities. At this stage, no allegations have been substantiated, and all relevant documents, including CCTV footage from the hospital for the time period in question, have been handed over to the police. We remain committed to supporting the process of investigation.”