A ward boy at the tertiary care maternity hospital at Petlaburj groped two women recovering from cesarean delivery on January 4.
R Praveen, 30, the accused, a sweeper was at a room adjacent to the post operative ward at the hospital. Praveen who was in intoxicated condition when groped women patients on the pretext of examining them. Hospital authorities alleged that no such order was given to him.
Praveen, should have left for the day but instead stayed back until evening on January 4. when the nurse on duty went to another ward, Praveen entered the post operative ward. He then onslaughted women ascertaining them to have received orders from the doctor to examine them. The attendant in the room grew suspicious and questioned him when he approached the third bed. He then left hurriedly. Soon after, the attendants caught hold of him and beaten him before handing him over to the police outpost at the hospital.
There were nearly 800 outpatients apart from 150 to 200 patients on a daily basis and the maternity hospital does not have adequate security and faces acute shortage of staff across the board. In the past also, Class four employees have been found to be in inebriated condition on duty by the hospital administration. However, no strong action was taken against them.
The doctors says that “If a nurse was present in the ward, the shameful incident would not have happened. “There was no nurse in the ward when the incident happened as she was in charge of two wards.”
The incident has damaged patient trust. ” Though the women have been discharged from the hospital but were distraughted,” he said .”The hospital failed to look after the safety of patients and must take immediate steps in that direction,” she added.
Dr Sridevi, Resident Medical Officer at the hospital stressed on having more CCTV cameras. “We need more CCTVs and security. We are currently operating with class four staff who man the entrance,” she said.
A case was booked by Charminar police under Nirbhaya Act against Praveen. He is at Chanchalguda jail.