Doctor placed on compulsory leave over rude behavior at casualty

A female medical officer at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital has been sent on mandatory leave following widespread outrage over her rude behavior toward a patient seeking treatment at the casualty. District Medical Officer (DMO) issued the directive against Dr. Rekha Krishna after video footage of the incident went viral on social media and sparked intense public backlash.The incident took place when a patient suffering from a fever and severe body pain arrived at the casualty. In the widely circulated video, the doctor can be seen reacting aggressively, stating that the Emergency department was not meant for people to just rush in at will. She reportedly told the patient that fever was not an emergency and refused to examine him.Even after the patient’s wife said that her husband had a heart condition and was in severe pain, the doctor dismissed her concerns with a mocking tone. Following the public uproar, the hospital superintendent issued a show-cause notice to Dr. Rekha Krishna and recommended departmental action to the DMO. Additionally, the Health department’s vigilance wing visited the hospital to collect evidence and conduct a thorough inquiry, leading to the decision to place the doctor on compulsory leave pending investigation. Published - September 01, 2026 08:16 pm IST