Odisha Rights Panel Begins Probe Into Beating Of Patients In SCB Destitute Ward

Cuttack: A day after media reports about some patients being beaten up by the security guard and a female attendant in the Destitute Ward of the SCB Medical College and Hospital here, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Wednesday registered a case and began a probe into the incident.

Talking to mediapersons after visiting the hospital here, OHRC member Asim Amitabh Das said that the Commission has taken up the matter seriously.

“I had discussed the incident last night with the OHRC chairperson who asked me to visit the hospital for an on-the-spot investigation. After visiting the hospital and interacting with the staff, I can say that there is a lack of coordination among the staff of the outsourcing agencies hired by the hospital authorities. I also spoke to the female attendants of the Destitute Ward. I will probe the incident thoroughly and those found guilty will be taken to task,” Das added.

He further said that the hospital authorities have relieved the female attendant and the security guard of their duty. “No one, whether he/she is a trained and untrained worker, has the right to physically assault anyone. We have suggested the hospital superintendent and the emergency officer to engage male attendants in the male wards and female attendants in the female wards of the hospital, proper use of the equipment inside the Destitute ward and replace the security guards in this ward,” he pointed out.

The OHRC member said that as the female attendant, who was seen beating up a patient, turned up only after the in-charge of the ward to lodge a complaint against her. “I have taken her statement and will do the needful,” he added.

On the other hand, the female attendant refuted having beaten up patients. “How long you can tolerate these mental patients who are defecating inside the ward and abusing us? I had never beaten any patient. I had used the stick to threaten them. The security guards deployed at the ward are not helping us. We have informed the matter to the higher authorities. But they have not taken any action. How can we work in this ward when such things are taking place? We are not feeling safe,” she added.