A recent viral incident has shaken the community, involving a conversation between a doctor and a Muslim patient at Ambur Government Hospital. The disrespectful behavior by the doctor and languid replies exhibited by the doctor and the prolonged waiting times at the government hospital, have sent shockwaves.
The incident happened to a family from Sunnambu Kalai, Ambur, Tirupattur district. Sabeer Ahmed and his wife, Muharam, visited the hospital at 11 PM as the latter suffered from stomach pain. Unfortunately, no doctor was available at that time. Allegedly, the compounder administered an injection. Later, when one Dr. Karthikeyan arrived, the patient expressed ongoing discomfort and sought further assistance. In response, he advised them to seek treatment at a private hospital which is located 54 km away.
It is alleged that Karthikeyan asked the compounder to administer ‘any injection and send them away’.
Muharam’s family questioned the doctor “Stomach ache has not yet reduced why do you come this late?”
Karthikeyan replied “Injection has been administered do not create a problem here! If you want, go to Adukkam Parai hospital”
The quarrel was recorded by Muharam on her mobile camera in which she can be heard saying “For vomit and diarrhea you are the only doctor who has asked us to go to Adukkam Parai and no one in the world has said like this… You are a doctor right? Should you not ask the patient what is happening with them for stomach ache?”
During the entire conversation, Karthikeyan was seen chewing gum in his mouth standing lethargically without any concern and disrespectfully questioning the woman “Unakku thana vayiru vali?” (Stomach ache is for you right?)
Here’s how the rest of the conversation unfolds:
Angered muharam replied “Do not speak unnaku enakku? (You, Me – in a disrespecting manner) shall I call you the same?” to Kathikeyan replied “Call me”
Muharam said “We are respecting your study so take that respect”
Karthikeyan said “Injection has been administered for stomach ache”
Sabeer replied “Still the pain persists”
Karthikeyan angrily questioned “Will the pain reduce in 5 minutes? When was the injection administered?”
Muharam replied “I came here one and a half hours ago were you doctors present at the premises? He assisted me (Compounder)”
Karthikeyan in a threatening tone said “You should not create problem like this here”
Muharam said “He is asking me.. Is this a vegetable selling shop? And if the vegetables are not good in this shop buy them from the next shop. Is this the way a doctor speaks?”
The next day when speaking to the reporters she said “I had a stomach ache yesterday I came to the hospital at 11 PM and at 11:05 PM I was administered an injection. After the injection my pain did not subside. Neither the doctor nor the sisters (nurses) administered the injection; only the compounder administered it! Only the compounder administered the injection. They instructed me to sit for 15 minutes but I waited for one and a half hours but no doctor came to see me. When the doctor arrived he inquired the compounder what injection he administered. Then why is a doctor here?”
She further said “Chewing gum in his mouth he did not speak in the manner expected of a doctor.”
For stomach ache and diarrhea should we go to adukkam parai? For going to Adukkam Parai why is there a doctor here? He says, you should go to a private hospital and should not come here for treatment! For me to go to a private hospital why are they providing him a salary and appointing him here? He said, ‘You can bring whoever.. I’ll see whatever happens’. He was not speaking like a doctor and behaved like a rowdy. We have the video you can see he threatened us saying he would call the police. You should take strict action against him I came here so that the Tamil Nadu government will take action.”
நீ எங்க வேணா போய் சொல்லிக்கோ.. பயப்படமாட்டேன்.. வயிறு வலி என வந்த நோயாளி.. அலைக்கழிக்க வைத்த மருத்துவர் #Ambur #Hospital #Patient #DoctorIssue #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/OfmQw1yxpF
— News Tamil 24×7 | நியூஸ் தமிழ் 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) January 12, 2024
Netizens mocked the doctor and expressed their distress over the situation in Tamil Nadu.
One person said that this was a negative consequences of caste-based reservation system in Tamil Nadu instead of merit-based system like other countries.
சாதியடிப்படை இடவொதுக்கீட்டால் வந்த கேடு?
மேலை நாடுகளில் மருத்துவப்படிப்புக்கு வெறும் அதிகளவு புள்ளிகள் மட்டும் போதாது. குறிப்பிட்டளவு மணித்தியாலங்களுக்கு மேற்பட்ட volunteer hours தேவை. மாணவனுக்கு மக்களுக்கு சேவை செய்யும் மனப்பான்மை, பண்பு, attitude எல்லாவற்றையும் தகுதி…— வியாசன் (@viyasank) January 12, 2024
Some criticized the careless choice of doctors and called for stricter actions.
எந்த மருத்துவமனை? மருத்துவம் என்பது மக்கள் சேவை. அதை பண்ண வக்கில்லாதவனுக்கு யார் வேலை கொடுத்தது? அவனுக்கு வந்த அகங்கார நோயை குணப்படுத்த யோசிக்காம செவுள்ளயே 4 வைங்க சரியாகிடும்.
— Pravin Smart (@PravinSmartNTK) January 12, 2024
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