Hospitals Heads to be held Non-complaint if Institutional FIR not filed in Doctors assault case

New Delhi: Taking cognizance of the rising cases of assaults against doctors and how repeatedly the culprits go scot-free due to lack of police action in the matter, the Delhi government recently has come out with a circular mandating that an institutional FIR be filed in the matter by the head of the institutions in such cases

All HOD's of Hospitals/Medical Institutions, are hereby directed that in case of any  incident involving abuse or violence by the patients or their attendants, an FIR/Complaint is required to be filed by the concerned Hospitals/ Institutions immediately. In no case, the individual doctor/para-medical/nursing/administrative staff, etc., should be asked to lodge the FIR/complaints with the Police in such cases.

Further, the circular laid down the duty of the FIR upon the MS/directors of the institutions adding that non-compliance of the directions will be viewed seriously

It will be incumbent on MS/Director of the institution to ensure that an FIR is lodged in such cases promptly by the hospital or institution concerned rather than insisting on the concerned hospital staff to lodge the FIR

Non-compliance of aforesaid directions will be viewed seriously.

The Health Department of the Delhi Government has directed all government hospitals to file an institutional FIR regarding incidents of abuse or violence by any patient or attendant.

The doctors or medical staff cannot be asked to do so, the health department ordered.

In a circular issued to heads and medical superintendents of various city government-run hospitals and medical institutions, Delhi Health Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar also said, non-compliance of the direction will be "viewed seriously".

"The direction applies to Delhi government hospitals, but we are seeing if it can be extended to private hospitals in the city too," Delhi Health Secretary told PTI.

Various incidents of scuffle have been reported at government and private hospitals in the city in the past. Federation of Resident Doctors Association, the umbrella body of 15,000 resident doctors with the government hospitals in Delhi had been demanding that Institutional FIR be mandated in such cases, as many times, hospitals tell the beaten staff only to file an FIR adding to their further harassment besides assault.

The demand  was also raised by the Delhi Medical Association with their recent meeting with the Delhi health Secretary

" During a recent convention organised by our North Delhi, branch, we raised the issue of Institutional FIR in cases of violence/assault at medical institutions with the Chief Secretary, Shri Vijay Dev. We are happy that taking into account this grave issue, this order has now come." Dr Girish Tyagi, President Delhi Medical Association told Medical Dialogues.

Welcoming the order, Dr Sumedh, President FORDA told Medical Dialogues," FORDA has been fighting for this issue for the past many years. Our resident doctors, not only face regular assaults, but also harassment when they have to then run after the police to file an FIR in the matter. The government had promised us this demand last year, and we are happy to see that this has finally been met. "

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The Delhi government has various hospitals under its administration, including the LNJP Hospital, GB Pant Hospital, BSA Hospital, DDU Hospital and the GTB Hospital.