Australian Doctor Australia Doctor 18th August 2017 | Page 8

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Docs’ waiting-room ‘scuffle’ scares kids
Dr Kumar says he was under
a lot of stress.
GEIR O’ROURKE
POLICE are investigat-
ing a waiting-room brawl
between a practice owner
and another GP that saw
blood spilled in full view of
patients.
An onlooker has described
her distress as she shielded
her young daughter from
the fight, which allegedly
began as an argument over a
patient and spilled onto the
street outside the My Family
Doctors clinic in Townsville,
Queensland, last month.
The witness, who had
been waiting with her
daughter for an appoint-
ment at the practice, told
the Townsville Bulletin that
the punch-up started after
practice owner Dr Praveen
Kumar began swearing at a
staff doctor.
“An elderly lady’s fin-
ger had been cut open …
they were arguing, and [Dr
Kumar] was swearing, ‘If I
told you to do the stitch, you
do the f***ing stitch’,” she
said.
“My child was scared;
another woman’s child was
scared.”
The staff doctor, who
was allegedly injured above
his right eye, filed a formal
complaint with Queensland
Police after the incident and
was later taken by ambu-
lance to Townsville Base
Hospital.
The 45-year-old told
police he had hit the ground
after being punched on the
right side of his face by Dr
Kumar.
Queensland Police said Dr
Kumar, whose medical reg-
istration was suspended in
August 2016, had not been
charged over the alleged
assault but was assisting
them with their inquiries.
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