Journalism of Courage
Physicians out to convince cops following release of culprits in last five attacks
Though the police had nabbed the culprits responsible for five attacks on doctors at Ruby Hall Clinic and KEM Hospital in the past three months,all these offenders walked out on bail soon after they were arrested. The police officers were clearly in the dark about the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act,2008,that states that attacks on doctors is a non-bailable offence with three years imprisonment.
It was in June this year that doctors were assured of protection from attacks. However,the ordinance could not be converted into a Bill as the legislative council had been adjourned by then. The Maharashtra governor had extended the tenure of the ordinance and the winter session of the Assembly is expected to convert it into a Bill and later an Act.
This technical lapse had led to the non-publication of the ordinance in the gazette. The copies are available only now,according to Dr Dilip Sarda,IMA city unit chief.
Among the penalties in the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act,2008,is a Rs 50,000 fine on anyone who attacks a doctor or a hospital employee. What should dissuade vandalism of hospital property is a provision that anyone causing such damage would be fined twice the value of the property that he or she has destroyed.
Bhomi Bhote,chief executive of Ruby Hall Clinic,said though they had filed an FIR ,they later heard that the offenders had been released on bail. Now doctors are scared of taking up critical cases as they fear the relatives of patients may attack them.
Ruby Hall has faced three such instances. In the most recent instance,four doctors and three nurses were beaten up in a ward.
Dr VL Yemul,medical director of KEM Hospital,said they had also contacted the police officers after the recent attacks against doctors. They have urged us to install a hotline with the police station.
