A large number of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff went on a procession to develop a healthy doctor-patient relationship and stop the clashes between the two sections. The procession was held under the aegis of the Indian Medical Association's Mangalore Branch.
Attacks
The former IMA Mangalore Branch president K. Mohandas Bhandary said there had been an increase in the number of attacks on doctors, nurses, and interns that had spoiled the healthy relationship between patients and medical fraternity. The State Government should intervene to provide adequate protection to those providing treatment.
Penalise
Dr. Bhandary said there was law in force to penalise those attacking doctors and medical staff. Apart from three years of rigorous imprisonment, an offender would have to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000 and reimburse the cost of damage caused to the hospital property. “But not many know about the existence of this law,” Dr. Bhandary said. He said doctors could gain the trust of people by taking part in medical camps in rural areas.
Relationship
Nitte University Vice-Chancellor M. Shantaram Shetty said causing harm to doctors was damaging the harmonious relationship they had with the patients. Such a condition was coming in the way of providing quality treatment to patients. “We need to develop a harmonious mentality,” he said.
Procession
Around 2,000 people participated in the procession that started from the Light House Hill Road and culminated at the Deputy Commissioner's office. The IMA Mangalore president K. Jayaprakash Shetty, secretary A. Harish Rao, president (Elect) Manjunath Shenoy M., and joint secretary Animesh Jain participated.
