The recent incident at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar, where a resident doctor, Dr. Shahnawaz, was assaulted by a patient’s attendant following a patient’s death, is deeply unfortunate. The July 22-23, 2025, episode sparked protests by resident doctors, who temporarily shut the hospital’s emergency gates, disrupting care and leaving patients, including a man from Pulwama with an electrocuted son, in distress. This incident, captured on CCTV, highlights a fraying doctor-patient relationship amid systemic healthcare challenges.
SMHS, a premier tertiary care facility in Kashmir, serves thousands daily, with over 1,000 beds and a patient load straining its infrastructure. The doctor-patient ratio in Jammu & Kashmir is alarmingly high, placing immense pressure on medical staff. One nurse often caters to 50 patients, and oxygen ports are available for only a third of beds, amplifying stress and frustration. Doctors, bound by their oath to serve, face not only overwhelming workloads but also risks of violence, as seen in similar assaults at SMHS and GMC Jammu.
However, the doctors’ strike, while a cry for safety, exacerbated patient suffering. Locking emergency gates, though a protest against violence, cannot justify abandoning duty. Patients, already burdened by a strained system, deserve empathy, not collective punishment. The attendant’s assault was condemnable, and an FIR (No. 11/2025) has been filed, but justice must not come at the cost of innocent lives.
Patients and their families must also respect doctors working under grueling conditions. Allegations of negligence, as in the case of Javid Ahmad’s death, require investigation, not violence. Respect fosters trust, essential for healing.
Unionism and strikes, while drawing attention, risk deepening mistrust. Both sides must prioritize dialogue. SMHS’s administration, with ongoing expansions, should address staffing shortages and safety measures. Patients and doctors must rebuild mutual respect to prevent such crises. Only through compassion and cooperation can SMHS remain a beacon of hope.
XOXO XOXO
