A 25-year-old doctor who was on duty at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bambolim is said to have been verbally and physically abused by two women over how they handled their patient. This is another case of violence against healthcare professionals. The incident took place when the two women approached the doctor during his rounds in the medical ward on May 22 between 7 and 9:30 p.m. According to reports, the patient is the father of one of the women, and the identity of the other woman is yet unknown.
According to the doctor's complaint, one woman abused him verbally and pulled his shirt and hand, while the other removed her slippers and made a gesture to hit him. This obstructed the doctor from performing his lawful duties. Following the complaint, the police registered a case against the two women under sections 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 352 (assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation), 186 (obstructing public servant in the discharge of his duty), and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) read with 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The doctor, identified as Dr. Prabhudesai, stated that he had informed the patient’s attendants that he was an emergency medicine doctor and not the one treating the patient, advising them to contact the treating doctor for any concerns. Despite this clarification, the women confronted him, leading to the conflict. The Agassaim police suspect that the assault resulted from a lack of communication regarding the patient's treatment. The police have asked the daughter of the patient to appear for questioning through a notice as part of their ongoing investigation.
The medical community has strongly condemned the attack, demanding justice for the assaulted doctor. Dr. Frazer Rodrigues, President of the Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD), announced support for Dr. Prabhudesai and emphasized that such violence against doctors, who are merely doing their duty, could negatively impact medical care for other patients.
Dr. Sandesh Chodankar, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Goa State, called for the strict implementation of the Goa Medicare Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act 2013. He stated that medical practitioners should be able to work without fear of physical violence or abuse from patients or their relatives.
Similarly, former IMA Goa State President Dr. Shekhar Salkar and IMA Goa State Medicolegal Cell Chairman Dr. Shailesh Kamat urged for the application of the Goa Medicare Services Act 2013 in this case, insisting that the accused should face appropriate punishment. Dr. Salkar stressed the need for the immediate arrest and imprisonment of the culprits. Dr. Kamat criticized the police for registering the case under sections of the IPC instead of the specific provisions of the Goa Medicare Services Act, which carry a punishment of three years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 50,000. He described this as negligence and a move that reduces the Act's purpose.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
