AIIMS doctors get self-defence lessons
Apart from studying medical courses and treating patients, doctors in All India Medical Science are gearing up for some self-defence and fitness training classes.
In the wake of regular assaults on doctors in Delhi and other parts of the country, the resident doctors are getting themselves enrolled in such safety measure training programmes.
According to Dr. Vijay Gurjar, President, Resident Doctor Association, AIIMS, “AIIMS administration have considered our demand for self-defence and fitness training for the resident doctors. Furthermore, the training session will be commenced from May 15, besides a park at Gymkhana.” He also stated that they are grateful for the prompt response of the administration.
Nearly, 1500 resident doctors, junior doctors, MBBS students and paramedical staff and other have given us an enthusiastic response for this fitness and self-defence programme.
“All the doctors and medical staff are being requested to attend the training programme as this will help medical practitioners to handle threatening situations with greater confidence. Meanwhile, he pointed that we doctors stuck with our books and patient, now with this session, we have a chance to boost our health and learn a skill to defense and to counter any worse situation at inside the hospital or outside the premises,” added Dr. Vijay.
The training session will be mentored by two specialists, Rajesh Rawat and Suminder Sing, who will give two schedules training session, six months basic course and thirty months black belt course. The timings are scheduled around 6 to 7 pm and 7 to 8 pm. However, the doctors or the other medical staff will have to pay for the course which costs around Rs 1000. This self-defence training will boost the confidence among the female staff, both inside and outside the hospital premises.
“During night duty, most of the nursing staff are alone in the wards and sometimes they are at receiving the end of angry outbursts from patients' relatives. With this self-defence training, female staff will give a fitting reply to miscreants inside the hospital,” said an AIIMS nurse.
Adit Sharma, president student union, AIIMS said, “Selfdefence training is very good way to calm our mind and it has the other benefit as well. As our student life is full of stress and this skill will provide benefit for the entire life. We will promote and encourage our colleagues to take part in this session.”
However, the experts are divided about the unique initiative to help doctors save themselves against any form of adversity related to their profession. Some felt that the focus should have been on settling disputes through proper communication.
In contrast to this, others said, “Learning taekwondo does not mean that the doctors will get into a fight deliberately.”
However, Dr. Nand Kumar, Secretary, Faculty Association of AIIMS said, “Providing safety is the responsibility of the government and not the part of our curriculum. We are humbled by the profession and care provider. Moreover, we are not supposed to indulge in any kind of fight with patients.”