West Bengal: Doctors demand legal safeguards while examining female patients

Kolkata: Aggrieved by alleged charges of physical assault against a Senior Pulmonologist in the city, the medical fraternity in the city has decided to stress on certain measures while examining female patients. The doctors during a meeting held between the Association of Chest Physicians, West Bengal and Association of Physicians of India  have demanded legal safeguards  for medical practitioners while also asking for proper probe into the case of Dr Ganguli.

When asked on the issue of assault charges levelled against the doctors and safeguards that they take for themselves, Dr Anupam Patra, assistant professor in the chest department at NRS Medical College and Hospital, told TOI, "Despite the huge rush of patients at a government hospital, I make it a point to counsel a woman patient before clinically examining her. As explaining takes time, it delays the appointment of other patients waiting in the queue. But then what if a woman patient accuses me of molesting her?"

He added that many other doctors are also following such counselling measures before taking on to the examination of female patients.

Since the case, there has been an inherent fear in the mind of male practitioners for examination of the female patient. Dr Sumitra Basu Thakur, head of chest department at Calcutta Medical College, stated that "Dr Dhiman Ganguly's case is sub judice and it will be inappropriate to comment. All I can say is that he is a highly respected physician. Most doctors in my department are men and after the incident, they are apprehensive about examining female patients."

Regarding the matter the Association of Physicians of India (API) had also condemned the media trial of pulmonologist on mere allegations of sexual assault.