Will a new law actually protect doctors against violence?

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday held a protest to highlight the increasing violence against doctors and to demand a central law to protect them against such violence. 

Over the last one year, doctors and other medical professionals have earned the sobriquet of Corona Warriors, as they have tirelessly and often cluelessly (given that the illness was new and treatment protocols are still being determined) worked to treat patients. Many have themselves died—over 700 nationwide in the second wave itself. Many others have had their family members succumbing to the pandemic, and yet, have continued working. 

Yet, reports of violence against the medical fraternity have come as an ugly blemish at a time when the nation was doffing its hat to their work. Earlier this month, a young doctor, Seuj Kumar Senapati, in Assam was assaulted with brooms and utensils by relatives and friends of a patient who died in a Covid care facility. The doctor was carrying out his mandatory post MBBS rural service duty at the centre. In Kerala, Dr Rahul Mathew was assaulted by the son of a Covid patient who was brought in dead on admission. 

Attack on health professionals is a matter of concern, but it is by no means a new development. In 2001, angry Shiv Sena workers burnt down the Sunitadevi Singhania hospital in Thane after party leader Anand Dighe died of a heart attack there. They felt there had been medical negligence in the hospital. Vijaipat Singhania decided not to rebuild the hospital again, as a result of which the city lost out a good health care facility. 

A 2018 article in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR), however, notes that the frequency of attacks has increased, or at least, there is greater awareness of this issue in the country today. An ongoing study by the IMA says that at least 75 per cent of doctors have faced aggression from patients or their relatives. While most of the aggression is in the form of verbal abuse, the IJMR report says that the verbal assault can morph into a full blown physical one with speed.  

Will a new law, however, help in reducing such assaults? Why do people hit out at the lifesavers and caregivers, themselves? The reasons are many. The tension and helplessness that the family members undergo when a loved one is serious often makes them reactionary. While it is futile to lash out against fate, the doctor before them provides an easy target for all the pent up frustration. Also, given the steep cost of medical care, the families do feel cheated when, despite all the money they've paid, they still lose a loved one. Privatisation of health has resulted in healthcare and medicine no longer being regarded a vocation, it is a service given for a price paid. On the other hand, in government centres, families often feel that it is their right to get the best. Given the perennial shortage of equipment, medicines and even staff, the anger is quick to build up. The IJMR report interestingly notes that in India, unlike the west, the violence is often not by the patient but by family members and friends. Sometimes, there is a political angle, like in Anand Dighe's case, and then, goons also step in. 

Covid has seen the medical staff hard pressed to provide information to families. Even otherwise, communication between doctor and families is often the reason for misunderstandings. In recent years, there have at least been conversations on the need for doctors to improve on their communication skills, especially bedside manners with the patients. In reality, however, doctors often remain distant, and talk down to the families. This is an area the medical fraternity needs to further introspect upon. Addressing the why's of the assault are more important than having yet another law between patient and doctor. 

At the same time, there's a need for a larger awareness on the limitations of the medical team, of even medical science. Doctors are either vilified, or exalted to godlike status. While they might like basking in the glory of the latter, it is more practical for them that people realise doctors are professionals and not invincible. These, however, are exercises that the two sides need to constantly keep working on. For, however short staffed a hospital may be, it is the human touch that often more important than all the fancy equipment and medicines.

Already, the country has fewer doctors than it needs, and the distribution is skewed against rural areas. The last thing India needs at this juncture Ian for doctors to fear patient wrath more than the disease they are treating. And the country needs its healthcare workers more than ever before.