Docs demand a law to protect themselves

“We have become easy targets of not only the attendants of patients but also the local leaders or notorious elements in the area,who are basically seeking attention,” said Dr BP Singh,General Secretary of the Provincial Medical and Health Services Association.

“While doctors being attacked during the polio immunisation have become a routine,now incidents are being reported about manhandling of doctors from different regions without any fault of theirs,” said Singh.

“The irony is that despite knowing that the doctors are not at fault,hardly any action is taken against the culprits,” he said.

“In a majority of the cases,the police hesitate to file FIRs and even when they do after the intervention of senior officers,there is hardly any action,” he added.

According to Singh,in states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka,an FIR is immediately registered against the person who assaults a doctor on duty.

“We also want a similar legislation,which not only provides proper protection but under which proper action can be taken against the culprits,” said Singh.

“We have placed our proposal before the Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) and we have been assured by the government that they will soon take an initiative in this regard,” added Singh.

The assaults
* Two weeks ago,Dr Nandlal Yadav,a physician in Basti was mishandled by the attendants of a patient,alleging negligence.
* Last week,a local ran over his jeep over a Primary Health Centre doctor,as the doctor forced him to vacate the PHC for creating a ruckus.
* Doctor Pradeep Alwa is still admitted in Balrampur Hospital with serious head injuries.
* The latest case occurred on May 11,where a medical team was tied to a tree for over two hours.