Chattisgarh: Doctors' bodies condemn MO assault during MLA inspection

Doctors bodies like Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), Indian Medical Association (IMA) Chattisgarh, and Chhattisgarh In-service Doctor's Association (CIDA) have demanded strict actions against the culprits and also sought that the Medical Protection Act should be imposed on all such accused.

As per a recent press release by FAIMA, the incident took place when the local MLA and District Collector visited the facility for an inspection. Several goons accompanied them and they were allegedly under the influence of alcohol. The miscreants allegedly verbally abused and physically injured the Medical Officer, N.H.M. Duldula. Right after the incident both the doctors tendered their resignations late at night.

The doctors have written in their resignation that the Collector and the Parliamentary Secretary had come to the hospital around 12 o'clock in the night for inspection. Some members of the inspection team were intoxicated. They started beating and pushing. Humiliated by this incident, they resigned. " It is unfortunate that our respectable politicians provoked this brutal act against our hard-working and dedicated medical professionals", added FAIMA.

Commenting on the issue CIDA stated, " On the night of 25th May, at Duldula Community Health Center, District Jashpur, on-duty doctors were abused, assaulted, and threatened with death, which is recorded in CCTV. After the incident, the doctors lodged a complaint. But even after the registration of the FIR, the main accused has not been arrested yet, nor has the Medical Protection Act been imposed on the accused till now."

The association also claimed that a lot of pressure is being exerted on the offending doctors complaining as well as on their family members against the complaint by the local public representatives due to which the doctors are extremely scared and feel helpless. CIDA has also approached the Chief Minister and submitted a letter describing the incident. They mentioned in the letter, " These doctors have now accepted that they committed the crime of joining a government job in a remote and inaccessible area like Duldula of Jashpur and a bigger crime than that by complaining against the beatings done by the local public representative of the ruling party. The new young doctors did not know that more work than saving the life of a patient is the jihujuri (being a Yes-man) of local public representatives."

The association further added, " Perhaps it was not their fault either because such a subject has not been included in the medical course yet. But as soon as he realized his great crime. He immediately submitted his resignation to the administration after the incident. Therefore, CIDA has requested the Honorable Chief Minister to forgive his crime and accept his resignation." CM was also requested to make all the doctors of the state aware of this crime by deducting one day's salary on the protest day of all the doctors of the state or to infuse security and confidence in all the doctors by taking necessary steps to improve the prevailing situation.

Extending support to CIDA, IMA Chattisgarh President, Dr GS Agarwal told Medical Dialogues, " Attack on an on-duty doctor is a nonbailable offense. One can not take the law into their own hand. If anyone has any complaints against a particular doctor, he or she can approach the medical board and the board will take necessary action against the doctor. If everyone starts assaulting doctors on spot without fearing the consequences then we will never be able to serve our patients without a fear."

Commenting on the consistency of such incidents, FAIMA also stated, " Several infirmities have crept into the medical profession in recent years, and it is indeed a grave concern that, apart from the general population, goons provoked by our leaders are inflicting injury to people in the noblest profession in several ways. If only such acts were to be perpetrated by our responsible leaders, who will serve justice to society? Today, no matter how diligent and careful a doctor is, he can never be sure what day or hour he won't be the victim of some undeserved attack, malicious accusation, black mail, or lawsuit." Stating that it is imperative for the smooth functioning of public health care, FAIMA demanded a thorough investigation of the political patronage enjoyed by these goons.