Unjust and irrational: Haryana doctors' body seeks revocation of suspension of 4 doctors
Six Doctors Suspended
Chandigarh: The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) on Wednesday described the state health department’s decision to suspend three Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and one Medical Officer (MO) over a low sex ratio as “unjust and irrational.” The association urged Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to intervene and revoke the suspension orders.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Anil Yadav, ASMO, DCH Rewari, and President of HCMSA, stated, “Attributing responsibility of such a complex and deep-rooted problem solely to HCMS doctors and imposing punitive action on them is unfair, arbitrary, and contrary to principles of natural justice.” He pointed out that doctors are already working extensively to implement the provisions of the PC and PNDT Act, and the task is highly challenging and involves several risks.
Dr Anil Yadav further stressed that “Religious and social reasons should be analysed first. Parents of a girl are always in constant fear because of the safety of their girl with all the incidents of domestic violence, physical assault, acid attack, and society makes parents fear having a girl child. Sometimes, some local politicians also intervene, and the doctors can only follow the instructions. Before suspending any doctor on the grounds of sex ratio, these social evils should be addressed.”
The association pointed out, “The issue of adverse sex ratio is complex, multifactorial, and is deeply rooted in social and cultural factors, and is related to the mindset of the people. It involves participation not only of the department of health but of multiple departments like women & child development (Nodal Department for BBBP), police, education, panchayati raj institutions, etc., and most importantly, society at large.”
“The haste step of suspension of four HCMS doctors (one of them was awarded for a remarkable contribution in improving the sex ratio a few months back) has severely demoralized the entire medical fraternity. We are not against accountability, but it must be fair and justified. Doctors are already working tirelessly to implement PC & PNDT Act provisions, conduct inspections, and create awareness but this job is very challenging, involving multiple risks and multiple factors and many a time it has been observed that when Doctors are conducting PC & PNDT/MTP raids on Hospitals and chemists there is immense pressure from local politician too for not taking any action in this regard,” the association added.
The association has also requested that directions be issued to tackle the adverse sex ratio through a coordinated social campaign and inter-departmental action plan, so that beti is safe not only in utero but after birth too, from rape, dowry deaths, domestic violence, acid attacks, malnutrition, rather than just scapegoating medical officers by suspending them. The association has sought immediate intervention to revoke the suspension orders issued against the four doctors and ensure no coercive action is taken unless there is gross negligence on the part of the doctor in this regard.
