Uttar Pradesh doctor allegedly denies treatment to woman for being Muslim

Opposition parties on Sunday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh after a woman alleged that a doctor at a state-run hospital in Jaunpur denied her treatment for being a Muslim.

The woman, Shama Parveen, a resident of Birbari village, was taken to the District Women’s Hospital on the night of September 30 after she went into labour, NDTV India reported.

In a video widely shared online, Parveen alleged that she had been admitted but left unattended by the female doctor on duty for several hours. The video appeared to have been recorded inside the hospital.

The woman alleged that the doctor refused treatment saying, “You are a Muslim, we will not treat you.”

The Deccan Herald quoted Parveen’s husband as claiming that the doctor said: “Don’t bring her to the OT [operation theatre]... She is Muslim… I won’t treat her.”

The hospital administration has started an investigation into the matter.

Chief Medical Superintendent Dr Mahendra Gupta said that he has sought an explanation from the doctor and the staff, NDTV India reported.

Gupta also said that action will be taken if the allegations are found to be true.

He added that four to five Muslim women had delivered babies and were treated at the hospital on the same day.

The Opposition alleged that such incidents were the result of the BJP’s divisive politics.

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