SCENARIO

Are the strikes by the doctors justifiable?

There are news galore regarding doctors going on strike from different parts of the country. Doctors go on strike mainly for two reasons (i) because of manhandling of the doctors and staff by relatives of the patients, and/or damage to the property of the hospital or clinic, and (ii) because of some issues regarding service conditions and emoluments. These two issues need to be handled differently.

1. Man-handling and damage to hospital property

Doctors are considered soft targets, because the doctors being educated and sophisticated members of the society are not expected and/or capable to retaliate the rowdy elements. Whatever may be the reasons for dis-satisfaction or anger, taking law in the hands by any person is not acceptable and such people should be brought to the book, i.e. complaints should be lodged with the respective police station, and if some photographic evidence is available that should be properly recorded and copies handed over to the police.

Maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of administration, thus ruling party is directly responsible and in case government fails in its duty to maintain law and order and provide protection to law abiding citizens, the opposition party should see to it that justice is done by the administration. But the political parties keep silent on such occasions sending wrong signals to the society that the doctors and hospitals must have been at fault. The authorities should promptly institute proper enquiry of the incidence and publicize the outcome of the enquiry. In case the doctor(s) and/hospital have been found to be at fault the matter should be reported to the State Medical Council and action taken according to the law. People responsible for unlawful activity in the hospital should be dealt according to the law of the land irrespective of the fact that doctors were at fault or not.

What should be done if no action is taken against the culprits? Doctors should not go on strike, because this would put other innocent people at risk, whereas no direct harm will occur to culprits. Doctors should inform the police of that area, Indian Medical Association and State Medical Council that in future aggrieved doctors as well as other doctors of that area will not attend to culprits in any condition till case is settled by the courts. Such information should be passed on to the media also so that people and doctors of that area are apprised of the facts. Some may consider it as 'khap panchayat farman', that it is against the spirit of medical ethics. Question is: had those people taken any approval or sanction from any appropriate authority before indulging in unlawful action? It is true that even during war the doctors treat injured enemy soldiers also, but enemy soldiers are fighting on behalf of their country, thus performing their duty. Meanwhile doctors should continue to serve the people.

2. Issues related to service conditions

The doctors should apprise the concerned authorities regarding the issues. In case the decision is not taken or appropriate steps are not taken by the department or authorities the doctors should apprise the political parties, in power as well as those in opposition. Many doctors are members of these political parties. In case no political party takes a stand in favor of the doctors' demands this would suggest that either their demands are not realistic or justified or political parties have no concern for the welfare of the doctors. In case the medical fraternity is of firm conviction that their demands are right, the doctors who are members of different political parties should resign from their respective parties, but doctors should not go on strike to pressurize the authorities even for meeting their reasonable and justified demands. Thus, strike by the doctors is not justifiable under any circumstances.