Dear Doctors and medical workers, In Covid Situation 'also', if you are being assaulted, here are your rights.. - Adv. Rohit Erande

 In these days of Covid-19,  Doctors are risking their lives to save us, but sorry to  say that some people are  not mature enough to treat the doctors and the incidents of violence against Doctors is at its peak. 

The Following message is loud and clear :

At all other places :

If you are sneezing, having cold, fever, then don't come to us..

But....

In Hospitals, Drs. And Nursing Staff : If you are sneezing, having cold, fever, then please come to us immediately..

Thus, inspite of Doctors were performing their Hippocratic oath, the incidences of attacks on doctors were on higher side and thus IMA gave the ultimatum  and finally Home Minister Shri. Amit Shah and others had high power meeting today and the Govt. has decided to amend the age old Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the ordinance was passed to protect the healthcare workers from attacks and the key features may be summarised as  under :

1. Attack on Health-care workers shall be treated as Cognizable and Non-bailable. 

2. Investigation will be done within 30 days.

3. Accused can be sentenced from 3 months to 5 years and penalty from Rs.50,000 upto 2 lakhs.

4. In case of grave injury to Healthcare workers, the Accused can be sentenced to Jail for the period of 6 months to 7 years.

& the penalty for the accused shall be from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.5 lakhs.

this ordinance has been converted into Law. 

Much needed demand of the Medicos has finally been full filled. The Doctors were living under tremendous stress and many of them have started advising their kids to turn away from this profession, which is not good for the society.  

However this provisions is applicable only in Epidemic situation and the demand of Doctors has been that I should be made applicable in case of each and every violence cases and Gov. should think positively over it. 

There are very few states like Maharashtra which have passed general law to protect Doctors from Violence, but its implementation is the key.

 Further the Law will not be helpful for the incidents those took place prior to this law as Criminal Law is never made applicable retrospectively. 

If any one has grievances against Doctors and Hospital, the Law and Courts have already taken care of it and crores of rupees of compensation has been granted in the history.  But if you don's stop beating Doctors, then a day will come where one will have to rely upon "google' for the treatment'

Let's hope now this law will be implemented in its letter and spirit. 

This entire sad state  reminds me of a  Sanskrit verse "Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha " which means if you protect Dharma (good cause), in turn it will protect you from evil.... Replace the word Doctor, for Dharma...

Thanks and Regards,

Adv. ROHiT Erande.

Pune