Stop Assaults On Doctors

Bini Dahal

Whenever we are sick, our first instinct is to visit a doctor immediately for necessary consultation and treatment. We reach hospital with a hope that our health problem will be diagnosed properly so as to get desired treatment. However, under a severe condition, patients can lose their lives. Modern medicine and technology hold the potential to safeguard the lives of people. But as humans, health practitioners may sometimes err. There could be negligence on the part of doctors and other health workers or the condition of the patient could yield an unexpected outcome. 

A couple of days ago, a 57-year-old woman died in Manipal Hospital of Pokhara. After facing a respiratory problem and back pain, the woman had been taken to the hospital. No sooner had the hospital declared her death than an agitated group of her relatives gathered outside the health facility, saying that a seemingly healthy person had lost her life. They blamed that the patient had been taken all around the hospital for treatment and they were not informed about her situation and what she was suffering from.

Seeing the large crowd making noises, one of the doctors asked them not to do so, thinking that it could disturb other patients at the hospital. But he was attacked on the head from the back. Suddenly, the doctor's side was angry as well. Then, the two sides tried to resolve the issue, but they failed to reach a consensus. All of this happened under the presence of the police officials. However, in a turn of events, the police officials stood in support of the irate relatives of the dead and assaulted the doctors. In a viral video, one of the police officials is found proudly explaining their action. The police personnel in question has been suspended now. However, the hospital now provides only emergency services as all the health workers are on a strike. 

Assaulting doctors seems to have been growing nationwide. Several doctors have been attacked in different parts of the country over the past two weeks.  In a Hetauda hospital, two doctors on duty were misbehaved. The death of a dear one hurts anyone. It is especially true when we hope the situation to be better through required medical services and that does not happen. However, going on to attack health workers is not the right solution. Opting for violence is not good. This not only causes ethical issues but also poses problems to other people who are trying to receive health services. 

The government is planning to post a notice in every health institution highlighting the provisions concerning punishment to those who try to attack healthcare workers. This is a desired move. In Nepal, medical services still are not up to the mark. And most young people are migrating abroad in search of a job. So within the country, young manpower is rare. And whoever remains in the country is pushed into a situation of frustration and uncertainty. 

It is high time that the government focused on improving the overall healthcare system. Much needs to be done to push the nation’s health sector on the right path. When doctors are not safe, they cannot help save the lives of others. So, the practice of treating health practitioners badly must end. And proper and fair investigation should be the only basis for ‘lawful’ action.