Date:22/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/22/stories/2008082259340300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

IMA seeks law to protect doctors

Special Correspondent

Team says that fear of assault hampers doctors’ decision-making

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged the Kerala government to bring in a law to ensure that those inciting or carrying out attacks against doctors and hospitals are properly punished.

IMA State president S. Alex Franklin on Thursday said the trend in the recent months was turning from bad to worse, with more such attacks being reported from various parts of the State.

Perpetrators

Often the issue is sparked by attention-seeking individuals who have nothing to do with the patients involved. Some of them see it as an easy way to gain popularity in the locality. The culprits are seldom brought to book, he said.

The fear of mob behaviour saps doctors’ confidence to such an extent that they are often reluctant to take a decision when the patient’s life is at risk. The difference between life and death in certain situations depends on the doctor’s ability to take decisions without the distraction of fear, Dr. Franklin said.

The IMA leaders met the Chief Minister, Home Minister, Law Minister, Health Minister, CPI(M) State secretary and the Left Democratic Front convener on Thursday to enlighten them about the real dimension of the problem.

Sometimes it takes several days for the attacked hospital to return to normal functioning and, in the meantime, many other patients are affected.

It is not the IMA’s case that doctor’s negligence, when it is real, should be condoned. There are laws to deal with that and established procedures for investigating complaints and punishing negligence, the IMA said in a memorandum submitted to the Ministers and political leaders.

Case in other States

Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have passed laws prescribing strong punishment for those attacking doctors and hospitals. Similar laws are in the offing in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. Doctors in the State would observe August 28 as a ‘Doctor-Patient Protection Day’ to impress the government about the necessity of such a law in Kerala also, Dr. Franklin said.