'Dumped stetho, taken up helmet', doctors protest against Bengal law

Over a thousand doctors walked in protest here on Saturday in two separate rallies decrying the new West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act and escalation of violence against the medical community in the state.

Winding their way through Esplanade and IPGMER hospital to meet at Rotary Sadan in central Kolkata, the healthcare practitioners flashed placards that said "Dumped Our Stetho (scope), Taken up Helmet" and "Save Doctor Save Life". To reinforce their demand, they were also joined in by children dressed up like doctors in white coats and stethoscopes around their necks.

Demanding a repeal of the "draconian" law, they said they are not against any form of monitoring, as envisaged in the newly-established West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission under the law. But they apprehended the "misuse" of the regulation.

"The private as well as the government hospitals are already regulated by the West Bengal Medical Council. What is the use of the bill? Why doesn't the new regulatory body consider the state-run hospitals. Doctors will be subjected to undue injustice. This is not the way to curb malpractice," said Indian Medical Association (south Kolkata branch) President R.D. Dubey, also a member of the West Bengal Medical Council.

On March 3, the state assembly passed a tough bill regulating functioning of private health facilities, providing up to three year jail terms and trials under the culpable homicide section of the IPC, and also a maximum fine of Rs 50 lakh for patients' deaths due to severe medical negligence.

The legislation, aimed at bringing transparency, ending harassment of patients and checking medical negligence in private hospitals and nursing homes, draws under its ambit all other private medical set ups -- irrespective of whether they are registered or not.

A high power 13-member Commission was set up to monitor activities of private hospitals.

--IANS

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