Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder: Federation of Associations of Medical Consultants of India moves Supreme Court
Satya Prakash
New Delhi, August 19
On the eve of the hearing of a suo motu PIL on the horrific incident of rape and murder of a doctor in the state-run RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata, the Federation of the Associations of Medical Consultants of India (FAMCI) on Monday moved the Supreme Court highlighting the dangerous working conditions under which healthcare professionals operate in the country.
"Violence against doctors in India has become a chronic and unresolved issue, for which we have yet to find a lasting solution ... affects the individuals involved but also disrupts the functioning of the entire healthcare system,” the FAMCI submitted
In an intervention application filed in the top court, it highlighted the lack of a central law to deal with attacks on medical professionals by patients and demanded immediate attention and strong protective measures to restore faith in safety and the integrity of medical institutions.
“There is an urgent need for the issuance of stringent uniform guidelines that apply uniformly across all states and medical institutions. Furthermore, these central guidelines should be backed by legislation that imposes severe penalties for acts of violence against healthcare workers, along with regular audits to ensure compliance," it submitted.
A Bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra – which on Sunday took suo motu cognisance of the horrific incident at the state-run RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata – is scheduled to take up the matter on Tuesday.
The badly injured body of the post-graduate trainee doctor – now being called Abhaya -- was found in the seminar room of the RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata on August 9. The Kolkata Police initially registered a case of unnatural death and arrested Sanjay Roy -- a civic volunteer the next day. However, acting on a petition filed by the victim’s parents, the Calcutta High Court on August 13 transferred the probe to the CBI, expressing dissatisfaction over the investigation conducted by the Kolkata Police.
The FAMCI said, "The incident makes it clear that existing legal protections for medical professionals are inadequate. There is an urgent need for comprehensive legal guidelines that not only punish perpetrators of violence but also implement preventive mechanisms."
It said, "Despite countless protests and requests for safety measures, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers remain vulnerable. Simple yet critical measures, such as improved lighting, increased security, and the installation of properly monitored security cameras, have not been implemented in many institutions, leaving healthcare professionals exposed to violence.”
