A 75-year-old patient knifed a doctor at Sinhagad Speciality Hospital Monday evening following suspicions that his medical bill had been inflated. A case has been lodged against the patient at Abhiruchi police station.
Maruti Shirwale, who was admitted last week following a severe bout of asthma, attacked Dr. Santosh Awari when he came to check on him during his evening rounds. The doctor sustained injuries in his abdomen. Shirwale was reportedly recovering from alcoholism and exhibiting withdrawal symptoms.
Hospital authorities said that the patient’s relatives allegedly told him that the doctor had inflated his bill. Dr. Awari said the bill had not been prepared as the patient required further hospitalisation.
Dr. Awari said, “This is a startling and rather bizarre incident. No mention of any bill has been made to his kin. Following the assault, I have told them that the patient can be shifted to Navle Hospital if they have any apprehensions about the expenditure.”
Footage of the incident retrieved from CCTV cameras went viral. It shows the doctor attending to another patient before approaching Shirwale’s bed. Shirwale is seen grabbing a knife hidden under his pillow and attacking Dr. Awari. The patient starts uttering expletives at teh hospital staff attempting to restrain him after the doctor escapes.
Dr. Sangeeta Waghmode, secretary, Sinhagad Road Doctors’ Association, said: “It appears that the patient was lying in wait for the doctor. The incident is alarming and shows that the medical fraternity is vulnerable to caprice of patients.”
