Attacks and assaults on doctors appears to be one of the indicators of a lawless and uncivilized society and poor governance. Doctors have become punching bags for all the malaise prevalent in the health system. A failing and inept system, which is unable to provide health to people and security to doctors. The system hides behind their working doctors and presents them as punching bags. The impunity with which attendant easily and brutally assault doctors and vandalize hospitals is really appalling. Similar violent incidents all over should be shameful to law enforcing agencies. Are we a lawless society? More problematic is the government apathy and silence of human right commission and similar organizations.
Unwillingness or failure of government to prevent such attacks on doctors will have deep ramifications on future of medical profession. Silence of authorities, human right commission is really appalling.
Media, celebrities, film stars in spreading the hatred against the medical profession and creating an environment of mistrust is unpardonable, where stray incidents were portrayed as generalization, just to earn money and fame.
Empathy, sympathy, compassion and trust of the doctor towards the patient, will definitely get a hit after these incidents. Everyday the news of assaults on doctors, court cases against doctors, negative projection of the medical profession in the media are viewed by doctor’s community anxiously..
Merely taking some token action and showing protest will not solve the problem. It does not compensate for the damage done to medical profession. Sympathy, compassion and trust of the doctors towards patients will definitely reduce. Who will be the ultimate sufferer, does not need a Einstein brain to predict.
This insecurity or fear of the uncertainty tends to affect the thinking process of doctors and the way they practice medicine or deal with the patients. Many will like to be defensive in practice, or try not to treat very sick patients. Why would someone try complex surgeries, if there is greater risk involved? Few will limit themselves to follow protocols. Going extra mile along with risk, which not everyone will like to take. Many will become health managers or do something else than do active clinical work. Who should risk his life while doing routine work?
Patients might get their revenge for the naturally occurring disease, but they will lose compassion and trust of doctors in the long run. If that is the way to impart justice in this era, doctors will have to find some way to save themselves.
Patient relatives vandalized NMMC Hospital Vashi, Mumbai
Relatives were booked for vandalising the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) hospital in Vashi following the death of a 50-year-old man. Of the seven, the four men were arrested. The patient, Venkatesh Suryavanshi, a resident of Juhu gaon, was shifted from a private hospital in Koparkhairane to the NMMC hospital on Tuesday afternoon. At the time of admission, Suryavanshi, who had tuberculosis, was in a critical condition and had very low oxygen levels. An antigen test had declared him negative for COVID-19.“At the time of admission, after checking his condition, vitals and the history papers, we had said that his chances of survival are very less. He was admitted to the ICU ward,” Prashant Jawade, medical superintendent, NMMC hospital, said.Suryavanshi died during treatment around 3.45 a.m. on Wednesday. After getting to know about the death, his sons Rupesh (22) and Sandesh (20), along with their friends Pankaj Jadhav (22) and Rohit Namwad (32) entered the ICU ward and started vandalising the department. Three women who followed them assaulted security guard Satish Dere.“I was told that they also carried a few sharp weapons with them. The security guard has received injuries. Our engineers are analysing the damage and finding the losses that we incurred,” Mr. Jawade said. Chief Medical Officer Majur Shaikh and a few other hospital staff were also allegedly attacked.
According to the police, the seven had vandalised three ventilators, one dialysis machine, two fans, one table fan, and two nurse stations.
Advantages-Disadvantage of being a doctor
25 factors- why health care is expensive
21 occupational risks to doctors and nurses
Covid paradox: salary cut for doctors other paid at home
Evolution of Medical profession-Extinction of good doctors 
Leave a Reply