THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Medical Association and Kerala Medical College Officers Association have given an ultimatum to the authorities to take stringent action against people behind assault on doctors.
The associations have also called upon the government to hold immediate talks for making law to prevent attacks on hospitals and medical professionals more stringent besides ensuring strict enforcement of strong sections against wrongdoers. The IMA has urged the state police chief to hold awareness classes for police personnel to deal with cases of attack on hospitals and doctors more effectively. It is alleged that usually the police is indifferent to such complaints and their attempt is to reach a compromise. In most cases the accused get away with such attacks which also emboldens them for similar assaults in future.The doctors alleged that people rush to the restricted areas resulting in overcrowding and chaos in casualty wings of hospitals. Besides affecting patient care activities, it leads to situations which could trigger violence. Therefore the entry of unwanted persons should be restricted in casualty.
Installation of CCTV cameras outside casualty wings could help to a great extent.
Installation of boards displaying details like punishment and penal action under law has to be taken up on priority.
According to IMA and KGMOA most of the persons resorting to violence against doctors are rarely close relatives of the patients. Even habitual offenders and petty politicians are involved in many cases.
