In a bizzare incident, a doctor in Andhra Pradesh lunged at his hospital superintendent on Friday while holding a syringe loaded with HIV-infected blood, and tried to jab the latter unsuccessfully.
The incident occurred at the Proddutur district government hospital in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district.
The Times of India reported that orthopaedician Dr David Raju stormed into the chamber of the hospital superintendent, Dr Lakshmi Prasad, at around 10am and was armed with a syringe containing the blood of an HIV+ patient.
The TOI report added that a staff member noticed the syringe and shouted out a warning, due to which Dr Prasad dodged the attack, and the blood inside the syringe spilled all over the hospital's floor.
Some of the blood also spilled on the Superintendent's shirt.
Following this, the Proddatur police rushed to the spot, as the staff held and detained Dr Raju.
The police suspect that a grudge was the reason for the attack, as the superintendent reprimanded Dr Raju often. Dr Raju claimed that the superintendent was harassing him.
District Coordinator of Hospital Services (DCHS), Dr Jayarajan was notified of the incident and reached the spot, to speak to both the doctors.
“We will send a detailed report to the higher authorities for the initiation of action against Dr Raju,” Jagayarajan told Deccan Chronicle.
Meanwhile, the hospital's staff gathered outside the premises and staged a protest, demanding action against Dr Raju.
"It is a shocking incident. He (Dr Raju) went up to the special ward for HIV patients, drew blood from a patient and tried to attack a senior doctor from behind and infect him with the virus. Strict action should be taken against him immediately, and district authorities including the Collector, should take note of this incident," one of the protesters told a local media channel.
A complaint was reported to be lodged over the incident, with the Proddatur police.