Shimla Doctor Fired After Viral Video Shows Punching a Patient
Shimla Doctor Fired After Viral Video Shows Punching a Patient
A viral clip from IGMC Shimla led to the sacking of Dr. Raghav Narula after an inquiry found misconduct by both parties, with protests erupting outside the hospital.
A video from Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla showing a doctor in a confrontation with a patient quickly made rounds on social media, drawing sharp condemnation from patients and medical groups. The clip appears to show Dr. Raghav Narula, a 31-year-old senior resident in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, involved in a physical altercation with a patient, Arjun Singh, who had come in for a bronchoscopy and was later reported to have felt breathless after the procedure.
Within days, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Himachal Pradesh, announced that an inquiry committee had been formed and that Narula's services as a Senior Resident were terminated with immediate effect. The statement noted that the inquiry found misconduct, misbehavior, acts of commission and unbecoming of a public servant by both the patient and the doctor, and a violation of the Resident Doctor Policy 2025.
Outside IGMC, patients and activists held protests, demanding accountability and better safety for those seeking care. The incident has fueled broader discussions about professional conduct in hospitals and the need for clear guidelines in handling disputes between staff and patients.
IGMC and state health officials have stressed that the incident is under review and that patient safety and doctor conduct are top priorities. The DMER's notice highlighted the policy's clauses to ensure that both patients and healthcare workers uphold standards of respect, with consequences for violations.
While the video prompted swift action, officials urged the public to await the full fact-finding report and to trust formal investigations rather than on social media posts alone.
