Open house: What measures should be implemented to ensure the safety of doctors at work?

Safety of women under the lens

The gangrape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata has created fear among medical professionals in general and women in particular. All this naturally gives rise to questions about the safety of women at workplace although there are fundamental rights like Article 14 that gives equality before law and also fundamental duties under Article 51(A) to ensure that practices derogatory to the dignity of women are prohibited. Still, there are no strict laws to ensure their safety. The government should take strict measures such as creating a designated space that is safe and welcoming to women. Also, create an environment of zero-tolerance at workplace and restrict the long working hours, especially for doctors. The government should raise awareness by conducting workshops and imparting training about sexual harassment. Last but not the least, which I consider the most important step is that in every school from Class I, there should be a period for women in which they are trained in self-defence so that she can fight if anything happens.

Bharti Thakur

Improve conditions in public & pvt hospitals

It takes years of hard work and diligence to reach a medical college and then to secure a seat for post-graduation in a government institution. Unfortunately, the working conditions and the arduous hours are inhuman. Dimly lit corridors and at times unlit corridors, lack of a proper doctor’s duty room, poor sanitation in the washrooms supposedly meant for doctors, long working hours where you are on your feet and not allowed to even sit with the continuous inflow of patients, are a few things that every resident doctor goes through. Add to this the scenario that if there is a case of mortality, a sea of relatives of the deceased is ready to manhandle you, regardless of the condition of the patient. The Kolkata case just about opened up bleeding wounds of the whole medical fraternity. The family lost their child and society lost an honest doctor. My heart bleeds to even imagine her plight and the pain she went through till she breathed her last. Let’s not only talk of security for the medical and para-medical professionals, let’s start with the provision of basic amenities which they deserve. The working hours should be humane, installation of CCTV cameras should be done and checked periodically as far as their working is concerned, entry into the hospital should be via gate pass and tight security should be there at the gate of every department… these are all hypothetical solutions to start with. I passed my MBBS in 1983 and MD in 1989, the conditions were pathetic then and with moral degradation of society, I guess they are even worse now. The seniors in the fraternity need to introspect and ponder for a moment, would they want their children to go through all this? The answers to everything lie within us, should we want to implement them. The will to improve the working environment should be the basic duty of the government and the ones at the helm of affairs. The intelligentsia of the country does not deserve to work in inhuman conditions.

Manveen Mann

Courts should be strict in such cases

The profession of doctors is considered to be next to god. When someone falls sick or gets infected with any disease, then it is the doctor who comes to everyone’ mind for help and cure. When someone is seriously ill, it is the doctors who cure them with proper diagnosis and medicine. The incidents of misbehaviour with doctors is witnessed on and often in the hospitals as the near and dear ones of the patients blame the doctor for negligence whereas the doctor always tries to save his patient . In the Civil Hospitals, the number of doctors, nurses and the staff is limited. Sometimes after the retirement of a health worker, the seat remains vacant or is scrapped. The condition of the hospitals needs immediate attention by the government, the reason being that the influx of patients has increased significantly in private and government hospitals. The need is for modernisation of infrastructure facilities. Even though emergency services are available 24 x 7 in government and private hospitals, the junior doctors during night shift provide emergency relief to the patient in consultation with senior doctors. The need is for safety and security of the doctors on duty. No doctor even thinks of negligence on his part while curing his patient but sometimes due to technical or other reasons, the seriousness of the patient upsets the family members but the doctors are always sincere towards their commitments and duties. Even though the police have check-posts in Civil Hospitals and private hospitals, hospitals have their own private security. If due to any reason, the family members of the patient create a ruckus, the police should register an FIR against the family members who have created a fuss and the court/competent authority should announce its verdict within a stipulated period of maximum three months. The courts should be strict on these issues. The recent incident of West Bengal has shocked the nation and doctors throughout the country are agitating. Similarly, volunteers of social organisations are also carrying out candle march throughout the country. Until and unless strict enforcement of law and punishment to the guilty is ensured in a time-bound manner, the safety and security of doctors will always remain in doubt. Also, all the hospitals should be under the surveillance of CCTV cameras.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Don’t make patients suffer due to stir

Every now and then, incidents of misbehaviour with doctors on duty have come to light. But the recent happening of sexual abuse and gruesome murder of a young doctor at a medical college hospital in Kolkata on August 9, has given a jolt to the nation. The postmortem report reveals the brutality with which the medico was raped and tortured to death while on night duty at the hospital. This insane act of barbaric assault shows how insecure and vulnerable the professionals are while performing duties at healthcare centres in our country. As of now, delay in tracking down the culprits of this heinous crime has led to nationwide protest by the medical fraternity, seeking justice for the victim besides foolproof security at workplace. When the protests are going on all around by professionals, political opportunism too is evident to seize ground for electoral gains. Undeniably, a murder is a murder and there should be no room for politics in case of such heinous crimes. The widespread outrage deploring the sordid episode is, indeed, a wake-up call for the Centre and states to bring about systematic changes in reinventing the security framework for healthcare personnel as well as for all others engaged in the field of public service. The urgent need is to strengthen the security aspect in hospitals to protect those who dedicate their lives for saving others. It is essential to hold an expeditious inquiry into this tragedy and render exemplary punishment to all those involved in this brutal murder. However, ongoing doctors’ protests should not result in neglecting patient care, as the primary focus must remain on providing essential services to those in need. Helpless patients shouldn’t be devoid of medical care due to delay in resolving the matter or any political hiccups.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Zero-tolerance for violence on medicos

Ensuring the safety and well-being of medical professionals, including doctors on duty, is of utmost importance. Some crucial steps to protect them involve implementing a zero-tolerance policy on violence against medical professionals, supported by a dedicated security team. Additionally, there should be a comprehensive reporting system overseen by the state government and adjudicated through a fast-track special court. Violent acts against medical professionals should be declared felonies to act as a strong deterrent. Hospitals should be designated as safe zones with mandatory security measures, such as 24X7 CCTV surveillance, panic buttons, security personnel, and de-escalation training. Improving the working conditions for medical professionals on duty can be achieved by providing proper retirement rooms with attached washrooms. It is also essential to regularly review medical guidelines and best practices to ensure the delivery of high-quality care to patients and minimise risks. Furthermore, establishing a regular follow-up system with patients, post-treatment or surgery is crucial for monitoring progress and addressing any concerns, which can ultimately prevent complications and improve patient outcomes. Open and honest communication about treatment outcomes, recovery time and potential risks can help build trust and reduce the likelihood of patient dissatisfaction or legal issues. Empathy from doctors towards patients and their families can lead to better decision-making and more compassionate care. It is extremely important to ensure exemplary punishment for criminals following a thorough investigation, handled by a fast-track special court, without any religious-political bias, as exemplified by the case of the rape convict Ram Rahim of Haryana.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Boost CCTV security in all hospitals

Doctors are known for saving the life of their patients. A doctor who ensures the safety of others naturally feels disgruntled when risks arise on their life. Doctors’ safety is a matter of utmost importance in our country. They should definitely be protected at work against any untoward incident. The foremost measure that needs to be implemented in this regard is to install effective CCTV cameras throughout hospital premises. Not only this, constant vigil through CCTV cameras needs to be done so that any suspicious activity/person can be probed. Security guards within the premises for doctors needs to be provided. In order to prevent heinous crime like rape of a doctor in Kolkata, special fast track courts for medical fraternity should be set up whereby minimum trial period is ensured to deliver justice to victim. Last but not the least, rape laws should be made more strict by providing in it death to culprits either by hanging or handing them to general public for mob justice. Until and unless provision is made in laws to punish rape culprits severely, rape cases cannot be stopped in our nation.

Sanjay Chawla

Install alarms, early warning system

The incident with a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata needs unequivocal condemnation. The incident made all the medical associations worried about the safety of doctors and other medical staff at workplace. The administration should take quick decisions about the safety of medical staff.

Night duty of women medical staff should be avoided. Arrangements for tight security must be made at hospitals and residences of doctors and other staff. The arrangement for lights should be proper at night. Women staff should be available for security. The hospital wards are attached to each other. If any person misbehaves with doctors and the other staff in hospitals and their residents, action must be taken immediately.

Sirens or alarms should be installed at the workplace of doctors and other medical staff so that in a difficult situation, the whole institution knows what is happening with anyone.

Sucha Singh Sagar

Hold employers responsible

The most horrific incident of rape and murder of a medical intern at a Kolkata hospital has bruised the country’s collective conscience and left so many questions of working women’s safety and honour tragically unanswered. One thing is very clear, that our law enforcement agencies have repeatedly and miserably failed to prevent or minimise heinous crimes against women in general and working women in particular.

The Supreme Court has periodically issued comprehensive guidelines for prevention of sexual harassment of working women in both private and public places of work but unfortunately the same are not being strictly implemented in the true spirit of the objective. In a landmark judgment of 2023 delivered in POSH Act, 2013, the highest court of the land has made it clear that employers be invariably held responsible for women’s safety and security within the workplace. If implemented, concerns regarding safety and sexual harassment cases can be addressed to a large extent. Above all, the whole justice delivery system (right from policing, prosecution and punishment) in all crimes against the women needs to be revisited by experts in order to make it more effective and speedy, and more importantly, to create constant and strong fear in the minds of potential offenders and criminals.

Jagdish Chander

Conscience of nation shaken by incident

Traditionally in India, doctors are considered to be the lifesavers after the Almighty. However, the present impression of profit-making by a few in the profession has crippled the image of the healthcare industry. Despite the fact, no one has the liberty to abuse, bully or manhandle the doctors. According to an ongoing study by the Indian Medical Association, more than 75 per cent of the doctors have seen violent behaviour at work, not only abusive language and sexual assault, but also threats and killing by the patient’s relatives. The recent brutal and inhuman rape and killing of a trainee doctor in Kolkata has shaken the whole nation and sparked outrage and nationwide protests to the extent that the Supreme Court had to set up a national task force of doctors who will make recommendations on the safety of healthcare workers at their workplace. Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud remarked: “Ensuring the safety of doctors and female doctors is a national priority and a fundamental principle of equality. The country cannot wait for another incident of assault to occur before taking action.” Nothing will change by creating various laws and safety panels because there is a need for change in the mindsets of the few filthy individuals who think that women are their property and can be toyed with at their wish. Change can be expected when there will be a heinous punishment for an atrocious and outrageous crime, that too with immediate action, because justice delayed is justice denied. Although healthcare in India is heavily dependent on doctors, there is a lack of paramedical staff and a deficiency of basic amenities cannot be neglected. To ensure the protection of healthcare professionals at work, security systems and CCTV cameras should be installed along with 24X7 guards. Lady doctors or trainees working at night must be given extra protection in the form of personal female guards and remote-controlled alarms in case of intuition of any danger. Above all, society, especially social beings like humans, should get their mental treatment on the issue of integrity of womanhood, irrespective of professional division.

Lakshit Jindal

Question for next week

Monsoon in Punjab brings a risk of water-borne diseases. Amidst the rise in dengue cases, shouldn't teams of the MC address the civic issues to keep diseases at bay.

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