Instances of violent attacks against medics by irate attendants of patients are being reported all over the country with sickening regularity along with damage to public property. The perpetrators deserve stringent punishment. There is a need for the government to introduce a doctors protection act imposing exemplary fine (ranging between 2 lakh to 10 lakh) .
In case of default of fine, the accused must be remanded to judicial custody, punishment must be swift and on the same day based on prima facie report given by doctors. This is apart from the usual sections of IPC such as 325 and 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 307 (attempt to murder)
Though the longevity of an individual has increased from around 47 years in 1947 to 68 years at present, many people think that a doctor is responsible for every death notwithstanding the fact that man is mortal.
Suboptimal knowledge compounded by misinformation on internet and social media lead to high expectations. Inability to meet these expectations sometimes end up in blaming the medical personnel.
Failure to have stringent laws to deter the culprits is the main reason for public violence.
Social media has done more harm than good in preventing violence.
Dedication, development of SOPs, training and time-bound implementation and enforcement of law are needed to prevent untoward incidents.
People should be adequately apprised of the need for controlling emotional outbursts and awareness should be created on the avenues available for redressal of grievances.
There is definitely a dearth of security personnel in the government hospitals. It’s the lower socio-economic strata that’s involved in incidences of violence. People from the lower strata are usually less educated and they feel once a patient is brought to the hospital, in whatever condition, the doctor must save his life. Making matters worse, mobs are instigated by local politicians who are often erstwhile goons and masquerade as champions of the poor and helpless.
(Dr Naresh Purohit is visiting Professor – Kerala University of Health Sciences, School of Public Health. He is Executive Member, Federation of Hospital Administrator. The views expressed here are of the author)