HC restrains medicos' federation from going on strike

The Madras High Court today restrained the Federation of Medical and Dental Students of Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital from "instigating or indulging" in any kind of strike or protest.
Justice N Kirubakaran passed an interim order on a petition by Raju, a resident of Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, whose wife was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Raju alleged that no one attended to his pregnant wife when they went to the hospital on September 18. The PG students had been on strike and also prevented others from discharging their duties, the petitioner submitted.
He said he was forced to admit his wife to a private hospital due to the strike.

Highlighting the problems faced by people like him, the petitioner filed the plea seeking a direction to authorities to take appropriate action against the PG students and others on strike.
"A doctor should be ready to treat a patient approaching him at any time as he is the only person qualified to do that," the judge said in his order.

The doctors on strike should consider the common man's suffering before resorting to such strikes, the judge said.
"Therefore, there shall be an order of interim injunction restraining the above federation and their team from instigating or indulging in any kind of strike or protest."

The judge also restrained them from refusing medical services to patients and preventing other staff and students from attending to their work.
"When the PG students have been paid by the government exchequer, they cannot refuse to treat poor patients and restrain others from discharging their duties. Every doctor has a legal and moral duty towards every ailing human being," the judge said.
The students had gone on the strike in support of their demand that only government medical colleges fee should be collected from them.
The judge issued notice to the state health department and the doctors and posted the matter for further hearing on October 23.