Violence against doctors: Ways to weed out this social menace

The invaluable role of doctors in society and their unwavering commitment to the well-being of others are widely recognized and celebrated. In recognition of their vital role, India celebrates National Doctors' Day on July 1st, honouring the birth anniversary of the revered physician, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. It serves as a special occasion to appreciate and commend the selfless contributions of doctors and their impact on humanity as a whole. On this occasion, TOI Medithon, a unique initiative by Times of India for generating mass awareness about crucial health conditions, organized a digital conclave, uniting doctors from various fields and policymakers. It aimed to celebrate these frontline health warriors and make people aware of the challenges they face. Titled National Doctors' Day: A Tribute to the Torchbearers of our Health, this day-long symposium was aired on TOI's FB platform on 1st July. The online summit included multiple panel discussions on an array of topics starting from physician burnout, the age of telemedicine, violence against doctors, and much more.

Inflicting attacks on doctors is a critical issue that has plagued the healthcare sector in India. The rising incidents of physical and verbal assaults on our frontline health professionals have reached alarming levels, posing a threat to both their safety and the quality of patient care. With the objective of delving into the root causes, consequences, and potential solutions for this challenge, TOI Medithon’s Doctors’ Day conclave featured a panel discussion titled Violence Against Doctors: Ways to Weed Out This Social Menace. In this session, the distinguished panellists discussed the existing legal framework, strategies for preventive measures, effective communication, conflict resolution, and establishing a culture of respect within healthcare settings. The panel included Dr. Sharad Kumar Agarwal, National President, Indian Medical Association, Dr. Aviral Mathur, President, Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA), India, Dr. Rohan Krishnan, President, Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and Dr. Vinay Kumar, President, Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of AIIMS.



Sharing his concerns about the issue, Dr. Agarwal said, “Violence is a serious problem indeed. It’s not only a damage to the doctor, but also to the property, establishment and the hospital. Last month, a 22-yerar-old lady resident doctor from Kerala was stabbed to death in the presence of Police while she was on duty. It is very sad to say that India is probably the only country where violence of this magnitude is increasing day by day and no action is being taken by the government or the society.” He also highlighted that IMA has been demanding for years that hospitals be declared as safe zones.

“If doctors continue to work under the threat of violence, there will be a tremendous pressure on them, especially while dealing with critical cases where they have to take certain decisions instantly. Pressure may have a negative impact on their decision-making skills. So, violence should be condemned and the society needs to be sensitized properly about this issue. If a patient party has to lodge a complaint against a doctor, then there are regulatory authorities for them. Violence is surely not the way,” he added.

It has been observed that the incidence of aggression against doctors in public sector hospitals such as AIIMS is very high. This is because AIIMS is the referral centre for all complicated cases from all over the country. “At AIIMS, when we receive a patient in a life and death situation, we only take an oral permission from the attendants of the patient party for an emergency surgery,” said Dr. Kumar. “This is when it is important to set the expectations right through proper counselling,” he added.

Dr. Mathur also believes that in critical cases, the patients and their families need to be communicated about the gravity of the situation at the onset. “This is a pre-emptive method of combatting violence. It should be followed by robust security measures. We all have been fighting for a central Healthcare Protection Act which the government can implement for a higher degree of penalty or punishment for any such acts,” he said. According to Dr. Mathur, creating mass awareness among the public about this issue through campaigns, postering and videos will also go a long way in preventing atrocities against doctors.

“The approach for tackling this problem should be holistic where every stakeholder has to take action,” said Dr. Krishnan. Talking about international practices which can be adopted here in India, he added, “In our government colleges, there is the issue of overcrowding. In the UK, doctors see a maximum of 6-8 patients in eight hours. In India, we have to see more than 300 patients in the same time span if we are in OPD. This only gives us two minutes to examine the patient, listen to him, jot down the investigation and explain everything to him. So, naturally, patient satisfaction is compromised. This needs to be addressed.”

It is imperative to create a safer and more supportive environment for doctors so that they feel secure, valued, and empowered to provide the best possible care to their patients. Raising mass awareness, and collaborating on actionable solutions are the best steps in this direction.

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