Visakhapatnam: Angry kin of a youth, who died in the area hospital of Tekkali in Srikakulam district, on Sunday ransacked the hospital and damaged its windows and furniture, alleging medical negligence. They also attacked the security personnel who tried to thwart their attempts to further rush into the hospital. Medical personnel at the hospital had to lock themselves inside a room before seeking the intervention of the local police.
This is just the recent instance of growing number of attacks on medical fraternity and institutions on the pretext of medical negligence in the state. Patients’ relatives engaging in a verbal spat or even sometimes launching physical attacks on medical personnel have become a common sight. Unfortunately, even after eight years since the Andhra Pradesh Medicare Service Persons and Medical Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act came into force, there is no respite for doctors.
As per this medical protection Act, attacks on medicare service persons attract a cognisable, non-bailable offence with three years’ imprisonment. But due to no awareness in public and the police in most cases taking the side of the mob, the Act is hardly implemented. The increasing attacks prevent doctors from accepting high-risk cases. Convener of the ethics committee of Andhra Pradesh Medical Council and vice-principal of Andhra Medical College, Dr. P.V. Sudhakar said: “I recently chaired a panel discussion on the same at the recent MCI conference. In many cases, FIRs aren’t filed even after the doctors lodging complaints. Attacking medical personnel on duty is a non-bailable, cognisable offence. The culprits are liable to a penalty of twice the amount of the damages occurred to the hospital.”
“We suggest doctors to send an SMS (short-messaging service) to the lo-cal Station House Officer or Deputy Superintendent of Police about the attack, as it would be on the record. If the relatives are miffed with the services offered to the patients, they can contact the AP Medical Council,” Mr. Sudhakar added. General secretary of Andhra Pradesh Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (APNA) Dr. P. Srinivasa said: “Awareness needs to be increased in the public about the Medical Protection Act and the punishments under the Act. The doctors can approach the local police and if they don’t oblige, we, at the APNA, will look into the issue.”
