Surat: Man booked for slapping doctor of Covid-19 hospital

SURAT: More than a month after he was allegedly slapped by the son of a woman who tested positive after her death, the medical officer of a private hospital designated for Covid-19, lodged a complaint against the resident of Puna area, on Wednesday.
Dr Jignesh Monpara, a homoeopath who runs Crystal Multi-speciality Hospital in Laskana, was slapped by one Kartik Lashkari whose mother Jashu was admitted there in a critical condition on June 25. She died a few hours after treatment.
After the woman died, his son insisted on taking her body, but Dr Monpara insisted that she should be cremated as per the protocol.
“Nearly 80% of her lungs were damaged and she was in critical condition. She died in a few hours of admission but her Covid-19 report was pending. Hence we informed the family that as per protocol, the hospital was supposed to inform the health department of SMC,” said Monpara, who was on duty as medical officer then.
The Lashkari family had been demanding the body since 1.25 am, and during the argument, he slapped Dr Monpara. At least 40 members of the Lashkari family gathered at the hospital and created a ruckus. Sarthana police later arrived here and installed bandobast.
“On June 26 morning, SMC was given in writing by the family doctor who examined the woman earlier that she had the symptoms of Covid-19. Based on the report, SMC took the body's custody for cremation and later in the evening, her report tested positive,” Dr Monpara added. The accused has been booked for voluntarily causing hurt and abusing the victim.
Explaining the delay in lodging the complaint, police said Dr Monpara was himself infected with Covid-19 and approached the police only after recovering fully.