Most attacks on doctors are instigated, says IMA

The Indian Medical Association has studied videos of violent attacks against doctors and found that most of them are unwarranted, with one person accusing a doctor and others joining in to ransack the hospital.

The internal committee of the IMA studied 20 cases across the country and found that the mob was often not even linked to the case and were instigated to join in the attack.

Dr K.K. Aggarwal, president of IMA, says that this kind of mob action was seen earlier in the case of thieves and eve-teasers caught by the public, “but now we are seeing this mentality towards doctors and hospital premises. The mindset is that the doctor is the culprit and that he must be punished. Others who join in have no idea of the case or the situation but merely attack because they think it is their right to do so.”

The CCTV footage is being studied to discover who has instigated the people in the hospital, who calls people from outside and also who has allowed these people inside to ransack the place.

Dr Shyam Sundar, a member of IMA, says, “The behaviour is unofficial but the motive is to attack and create damage to the premises and also the reputation of the doctor. It has been found that everyone present is taking part in the act but is not booked for criminal conspiracy as it is usually taken as a mob attack.”

After viewing these recordings the IMA is working on guidelines for hospitals to help prevent such attacks.

The most vulnerable are small nursing homes which cannot recoup the losses they suffer. The IMA recommends that simple things like not allowing too many people to gather outside critical or emergency areas, controlling people who argue or seem hellbent on mischief, and also calling in the police if they sense danger, could pre-empt the attacks.

Dr G. Suresh, also from the IMA, says they observed that the instigation occurs during the shifting of the body. “This part has to be handled very carefully; apart from counsellors, senior doctors too must be present so that relatives can be controlled. A lot of skill is required in managing these delicate issues and communicating with empathy to the relatives. This is most important,” he said.