A major step was taken on August 19 when the Delhi Medical Association (DMA), which has over 15,000 members, petitioned the Supreme Court of India to be included as a party in a suo motu case concerning the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate student at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, has taken action in response to this unfortunate tragedy, bringing serious issues regarding safety in hospital settings to light.
Senior attorney Vijay Hansaria and advocate Sneha Kalita submitted the DMA’s plea, which calls for the creation of an extensive program to shield medical professionals from abuse. The Indian Medical Association, the National Medical Commission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and law enforcement would be represented on the committee that the association has suggested be formed under the direction of a former Supreme Court judge. Creating a comprehensive plan to improve security in healthcare settings across the nation would be the committee’s job.
In order to address the safety concerns, the DMA has recommended a number of quick fixes. One of them is district police superintendents assessing danger perception in order to identify and mitigate security problems at government hospitals. They also suggest setting up a distress call alert system that would immediately link medical facilities to hospital security and local police departments, guaranteeing prompt emergency response. In order to improve surveillance and deterrent, they also support the installation of operational CCTV cameras in all government-run healthcare facilities, with live feeds to a centralized police control room.
Other suggested actions include making it mandatory to file First Information Reports (FIRs) within 24 hours of any incident that occurs in or near healthcare facilities, strictly prohibiting the use of firearms and other weapons there, and setting up a compensation distress fund to support the families and victims of violence in healthcare settings.
Following requests from the victim’s parents for a court-monitored investigation, the Calcutta High Court already became involved in the case and transferred the investigation from the Kolkata Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). After the body of the junior doctor was discovered on August 9 with serious injuries, there have been numerous demonstrations and increased calls for stricter safety regulations in healthcare settings.
The DMA’s engagement highlights how critical it is to address security issues in the medical industry in order to stop similar sad events from happening in the future and guarantee the security and safety of medical professionals throughout India.
SOURCE :
THE ECONOMIC TIMES
