Violence Against Doctors

In a shocking incident yesterday, a doctor in the SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, was physically assaulted while on duty. As per the reports the doctor was brutally punched by a disgruntled attendant of a patient admitted to the hospital. The assaults, which have increased in frequency in past few months, have not only created a wedge in the doctor-patient relation, but also developed a sense of fear in the minds of doctors, which, according to medical practitioners, is creating hindrances in providing quality health care. Violence against medical personnel has, alarmingly, been on the rise across the country. But it must not be normalized. Hospitals must be sanctuaries of care, not battlegrounds of rage. We call upon law enforcement to ensure that the perpetrator is held fully accountable under the law. Swift and decisive justice is not only warranted—it is essential to deter future assaults. Keeping in view the increased number of altercations the doctors are demanding stringent laws which include non-bailable warrant against the accused. These incidents are unfortunate and should be anyway avoided. Over the years there has been a slow but steady increase in the cases of violence against doctors. The standards of medical profession are on decline and over the decades the relation between patient-doctor has undergone a radical shift. The medical professionals globally accept this fact. There is an urgent need to work on this crucial factor and restore the trust a patient has in his/her doctor. While there is no point in resorting to violence or vandalism, attacking the doctors won’t solve the problems. However the question we should ponder over is: if we want stringent laws to counter violence against doctors, shouldn’t there be a regulation to punish negligent medicos. Government should frame a comprehensive strategy and provide adequate security to doctors to save them from violence. Also, there is a need our doctors are trained to handle the patients in our systematic way and to build a trust, which is presently missing. Healthcare workers are the backbone of our society. They dedicate their lives to healing the sick, comforting the grieving, and saving lives under immense pressure. To be met with violence while performing this sacred duty is nothing short of disgraceful. It is unacceptable in any civilized society. This assault is not just an attack on a doctor. It is an attack on decency, on humanity, and on the very principles of care that hold our society together.