Medanta Hospital Under Fire After ICU Sexual Assault Case

Gurugram :  In a deeply disturbing incident, a 46-year-old air hostess has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a hospital staffer while on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. According to a report by The Times of India, the survivor has also claimed that two nurses were present in the ICU room during the assault but failed to intervene.

The incident reportedly took place when the air hostess was admitted to the hospital for treatment and placed on a ventilator due to severe respiratory distress. Despite being in a semi-conscious state, the woman claims she was aware of her surroundings and recognized the assault as it happened. The alleged perpetrator is said to be a male member of the hospital staff.

In her complaint, the woman stated that she tried to resist the staffer and even made sounds to alert the nurses present, but no action was taken. She alleges that the nurses witnessed the incident but chose not to raise an alarm or step in to protect her.

The complaint has since been lodged with the local police, who have initiated an investigation into the matter. A case under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code has been registered. The accused has not yet been arrested at the time of this report.

The incident has sparked public outrage, with civil society groups and women’s rights activists demanding swift action and accountability from Medanta Hospital, one of the most reputed private medical institutions in the country. Many have raised concerns about patient safety and the vulnerability of critically ill patients, especially in ICUs where they are dependent on caregivers for everything.

Medanta Hospital issued a brief statement, saying that they are cooperating with the police and have launched an internal inquiry into the allegations. They added that the hospital maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of misconduct and is taking the allegations “very seriously.”