BOMBAY HC SEEKS MAHA GOVT REPLY OVER PROTOCOL TO PROTECT DOCS

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to tell if there existed a protocol to protect doctors, who are working round the clock to treat Covid-19 patients, from harassment at the hands of relatives of patients. A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni asked the government to inform the court about the steps being taken to protect the doctors. It said it will pass appropriate orders on Friday.

The court was hearing a bunch of Public Interest Litigations (PILS) on management of resources related to Covid-19, and another on rising instances of attacks on doctors by relatives of patients.

During the hearing, the court was informed by advocate Rajesh Inamdar, counsel for one of the petitioners, that several doctors working in Covid-19 wards across the state had been increasingly receiving notices from the police following complaints by relatives of patients who were either unhappy with the treatment received, or in cases, where Covid patients had succumbed to the disease.

The HC said that doctors, already overworked due to the pandemic, must not have to face such harassment, or spend any time giving explanations to the police. “Doctors are working 24x7, wearing PPE kits. Thereafter, they are having to explain to police. Is there any government protocol?” it said.

It asked the Maharashtra Advocate General to assist the court on reliefs the court could offer to such doctors..