OT Technician Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Patient in Karimnagar Hospital

Rapid Summary

• An operation theater (OT) technician, Peddi Dakshina Murthy (23), was arrested in Karimnagar by the three-town police for allegedly raping a female patient at a private hospital.
• The incident occurred two days ago when the accused reportedly administered sedatives to the patient undergoing treatment for high fever and committed the crime within the hospital ward.
• The accused, a native of Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, previously worked as a ward boy and male nurse at other hospitals but was dismissed due to alcohol addiction and habitual consumption of pornographic material.
• murthy joined the private hospital in karimnagar as an OT technician, where this act took place.
• He has been booked under Section 64(2)(e) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s father.
• The incident has sparked public outrage over lapses in hospital safety protocol.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This incident highlights alarming gaps in safeguards for patient safety within healthcare facilities in India. While hospitals are meant to be spaces of trust and care, failures such as inadequate vetting processes during recruitment can lead to disastrous consequences. Here, previous dismissals due to addictive behaviors were overlooked or underprioritized during hiring decisions-a clear lapse with tragic outcomes.The legal action under Section 64(2)(e) is an essential response; however, larger systemic changes such as mandatory background checks or stricter regulation on staff behavior might be necessary moving forward. Public outrage emphasizes societal expectations that vulnerable individuals receive utmost protection while in medical care.

This case reflects broader issues concerning institutional accountability across private healthcare settings-a matter that warrants attention from both policymakers and practitioners alike.

Read more: Published – September 09, 2025