"Important issue:" Karnataka High Court seeks Govt response in plea for protection of medical practitioners from violence by patients' relatives

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday sought the response of the State government on a plea seeking directions to ensure that medical practitioners are protected from acts of violence by relatives of patients. .A Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Sanjay N Gowda asked the State to place on record steps taken by it to ensure safety of medical practitioners. ."Issue notice to respondent 4 to file statement of objections dealing with the issue of protecting doctors from the acts of violence done by the relatives of patients. Steps taken for protection of medical practitioners to be placed on record along with the statement of objections.".The petition said that in the months of May and June, there were innumerable instances of violence against doctors in Karnataka as well as in other States, by relatives of patients. Doctors were attacked for "no fault" of theirs, the plea said. "Violence, cruelty and atrocity on doctors violate Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The Preamble of the Constitution guarantees to guard the health of all its citizens. Ever since the pandemic of COVID-19 has struck, there have been alarming numbers of violence against and all health care professionals, throughout India.".Doctors, the petition stated, have played a tremendous role in fighting COVID-19. In fact, many doctors who were COVID-19 frontline warriors have themselves succumbed to this deadly virus, while they were diligently serving to save lives. .In the light of these instances, the plea contended that protection of doctors and all healthcare workers against any kind of violence or attack or damage to hospital property is the prime duty of the State. .Even the Chief Justice of India, NV Ramana condemned acts of violence against doctors in July, the plea said. .The petitioner, therefore, prayed for the following reliefs: - to protect all government and private doctors from acts of violence by the relatives of patients;- to impose heavy penalty or imprisonment to such offenders; - to strictly implement the existing law against persons attacking doctors and healthcare workers;- to appoint a joint expert committee headed by retired High Court Judge to address grievances of the treating doctors. .During the hearing, the Court orally said, "It is an important issue. State government should look into it.".The matter will be heard next on August 19.