Coming under attack from patients’ attenders even after a stringent act to protect doctors and other medical staff was brought in, doctors at government hospitals are seeking round-the-clock police presence at hospital premises – especially at specific areas like mortuary and casualty where such squabbles are often witnessed.

(Illustration: SAAI)

Chennai:

Coming under attack from patients’ attenders even after a stringent act to protect doctors and other medical staff was brought in, doctors at government hospitals are seeking round-the-clock police presence at hospital premises – especially at specific areas like mortuary and casualty where such squabbles are often witnessed.

Pointing out that the patients’ attenders were unaware of the Tamil Nadu Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions Act, 2008, and hence tend to attack doctors and nurses, doctors are demanding police presence at all sensitive areas in the hospital.

“We only see elderly and inactive police personnel on duty at the police booths in hospitals. While the booth is essential at all hospitals, we are insisting a special force in sensitive areas where the attenders are generally emotional,” said Tamil Nadu Medical Council member Dr K Senthil, who had campaigned for the act.

The personnel posted at the hospitals only respond to calls, said doctors, adding how visibility of the force round-the-clock would act as a deterrent. “Instead of merely checking a brawl, we want the police to ensure that doctors and hospital staff are not harmed by the attenders,” said a government doctor.

Under the act, anyone commits or abets or incites violence against hospital staff would face a minimum punishment of three years, which may extend to 10 years besides fine.

“The act is a little too stringent, therefore the conviction rate is zero. We are therefore planning to tone it down,” said Dr Senthil.

Agreed M Anand, a city-based doctor: “When the attackers approach us and apologise, doctors tend to backtrack from filing a complaint. As a result, they are spared. Besides toning it down, the hospitals should also take the initiative of creating awareness on the existence of the act.”

According to Dr S Srinivasan, Registrar, Institute of Child Health, Egmore, the hospital has put up posters detailing the provisions of the act, specifically at casualty ward and other such places. “All hospitals have been taking the initiative to notify the public about the act,” he said.