Members of the Hubballi branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA), faculty members, junior doctors, staff nurses and students of Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) and Hospital took out a march here today in protest against repeated instances of attacks on medical professionals.
Yesterday, KIMS security staff and doctors on duty were manhandled by the relatives of a patient from Haveri district who succumbed to injuries suffered during a ‘bull run’. The patient’s relatives had alleged that medical negligence was the reason for the patient’s death. The police had intervened to bring normality at the hospital.
Today, medicos gathered at KIMS Hospital premises and took out a silent march to Kittur Chennamma Circle, where they staged a demonstration. The vice-president of the Hubballi branch of IMA Dr. V.B. Nitali and other office-bearers condemned the attack on medical professionals in strong words and expressed concern over the repeated instances of attacks on them.
They held placards seeking protection for doctors and said that such attacks would prevent the doctors from discharging their duties and also deter students from entering the profession.
They then submitted a memorandum addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad through the Hubballi Tahsildar seeking protection for the doctors and also steps for preventing recurrence of such incidents. Dr. Nitali told The Hindu that while the doctors understood the plight of the patient’s relatives after the loss of life, what was disturbing was that some vested interests were trying to take undue advantage of the situation by attacking and threatening the medical professionals.
