Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal on Sunday said the basic knowledge of laws for medical practitioners was required more than ever before in view of the changing medical and social scenario. He was speaking at the first State-level medico-legal seminar for doctors and radiologists at Artemis Hospital in Sector 51 here.
‘Violence issue’
Justice Mittal said there was a pressing need for all functionaries of the justice system to speak to each other to understand the grass-root implementation issues and gaps in existing policies and laws.
He said the criminal justice system cannot work effectively without doctors, adding that “violence against doctors is an area that requires serious consideration and deliberation”.
The aim of the seminar was to spread awareness among doctors about various laws influencing their profession and ensure better compliance with and implementation of the same. Around 140 doctors and radiologists attended the event. Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Sondhi, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-District Legal Services Authority Secretary Narender Singh, Public Prosecutor Anurag Hooda were also present.
The seminar was organised by the District Legal Services Authority, Gurugram, in association with the Indian Medical Association, Artemis Hospital and Daksh Foundation. Several topics, including medical negligence, consent and violence against doctors were discussed. The participants were told about provisions under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, besides the law pertaining to the treatment victims of road accidents, acid attacks and sexual assault.