KOCHI: The mounting incidents of medical negligence in the state have prompted a group people, including doctors, public health activists and others, to form an outfit called Chikilsa Neethi (Treatment Justice) based in Thrissur to render legal assistance to the victims. It may be recalled that the death of a first-year medical student at the Ernakulam Medical College due to medical negligence had gained widespread attention following the sustained effort by her father.
Similar cases are complex that require help and advice of health and legal professionals, said Mr K. Venu, president of Chikilsa Neethi. “The biggest challenge is to frame a legally tenable case and the help of professionals is very important in this area,” he said. Generally, members of the medical community are not ready to come forward to help in such cases. But there are signs of change, Mr Venu said. Dr. K.J. Prince, secretary of Chikilsa Neethi, also concurred with the opinion of Mr Venu. Apart from doctors, a group of public health activists, academics specializing in medical law and a few public spirited activists are supporting the cause, he said.
A state-level workshop on medical negligence and legal remedies held in Kochi by Chikilsa Neethi in the Association Centre for Medical Law, Government Law College, Ernakulam, highlighted issues of legal liability of medical professionals and expert evidence in medical negligence proceedings. The objective of the workshop was to facilitate a dialogue between medical and legal professionals.
The 10-point objectives of Chikilsa Neethi are:
Work for the rights of patients in the health sector. Awareness creation among patients and society about the violation of law by hospital managements, doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Awareness creation among health professionals, hospital managements and pharmaceutical companies about violations practised by them. Campaign against unlawful responses against doctors and hospitals.
Work for a healthy doctor-patient relationship. Using social media tools for such campaigns . Active support, including legal advice, to persons suffering from prima facie cases of medical negligence. Dissemination of such cases through websites in a transparent manner. Work for achieving these objectives in consumer and other courts in Kerala. Develop Chikilsa Neethi as a resource centre for the above objectives.
