Scuffle among staff delays surgeries at BSMMU

Surgeries at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) yesterday were delayed by over two hours as anesthetists of the hospital went on a work abstention, which followed a scuffle between two anesthetists and a medical officer, causing huge sufferings to the patients.

"On a typical day, over 30 major surgeries are conducted at BSMMU. But due to the work abstention of anaesthetists, only 18 major operations could be done yesterday," informed Brig Gen MD Abdul Majid Bhuiyan, director of the hospital.

BSMMU Vice Chancellor Prof Kamrul Hasan Khan termed the fiasco an "unfortunate incident caused by misunderstanding".

"Patients, who were supposed to have their surgeries today but turned down, would be prioritised and served soon," he told journalists at his office.

A five-member probe committee headed by dean of the surgery department was formed to identify the individuals involved in the incident and ordered to submit the report by seven workdays, he added.

The scuffle started on Saturday afternoon when a medical officer of the medicine department went to an operation theatre for his wife's checkup before a prior-scheduled surgery, said Professor Debabrata Banik, chairman of the anaesthesia department.

Disappointed that his wife was not prioritised over others and had to wait a long time in the queue, the medical officer started abusing two resident anaesthetists, which turned into a scuffle soon. At one stage, the medical officer, accompanied by several others, assaulted two of the anesthetists, Banik added.

Protesting the assault, the anesthetists did not join their work yesterday until the administration assured them of taking actions against those responsible for the incident.