This address is special to me as it is the very first time that am writing in this fortnightly newsletter.Right off the bat, would dive into a topic close to my heart-the Unity and Safety of our Medical Fraternity.
By now, all of you must be fully aware of the tragic suicide of Dr Archana Sharma. She was a young, competent Gynaecologist at Lalsot, Dausa pushed into a corner by police officials and political goons. The Police is for our safety, yet influenced by political goons, instead of protecting her from an unruly crowd they harassed her, treating her like a criminal. She was charged with section 302 of IPC which is a non bailable punishment for murder. The police personnel independently judged her without consultation with the medical board. The media publicly tried her without her voice being heard. And the medical fraternity to her, did not feel like a safety net. We all failed her. As per the Apex Court order delivered in 2004, no action would be taken against a doctor in the name of alleged medical negligence till the State Medical Board finds the party guilty.
The suspension of concerned police officers appears to be an eyewash to soothe agitated family, and friends.
We demand the following:
1. The SHO and SP to be arrested
2. All political leaders who influenced the Police to be tried for abetment of suicide
3. A stringent Central Act for VIOLENCE AGAINST DOCTORS and damage to their establishment to be passed in both houses of the Parliament at the earliest, preferably in this very session feel as a community we need
to be more cohesive. DMA members should reach the scene of trouble at the earliest when a similar situation
arises. Physical presence is a deciding factor in how these scenes play out. Often the doctors and nurses are outnumbered and become easy target for angry relatives, agitated by standers, and political miscreants DMA and its branches are looking to set up helplines, task forces, and having SOPS in place to deal swiftly and effectively with these unfortunate incidences, suggest we start our every CME and conference with a pledge that we take together as a reminder to always present a united front.
" I HEREBY PLEDGE THAT SHALL ALWAYS STAND STEADFAST WITH MY PROFESSIONAL BRETHREN. IN A
MOMENT OF CRISIS, SHALL BE PRESENT PHYSICALLY AND MORALLY TO ENSURE NO HARM IS CAUSED TO
ANY MEMBER OF MY FRATERNITY AND THEIR ESTABLISHMENT"