Healers became Victims -India’s Doctors Face a Growing Wave of Violence
Violence towards doctors is a worldwide worry, especially in countries like India where these incidents are becoming more common. In India, the medical field is often affected by violent acts against healthcare professionals, which is troubling for such a respected profession. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) reports that more than 75% of doctors in India have faced some kind of violence at their jobs.
White Aprons turned “RED”
Recent incidents from Kolkata and Uttarakhand have shocked the medical community and the nation. A trainee doctor in Kolkata was brutally raped and murdered during her night shift, a horrifying act that sent shockwaves across the country. Similarly, in Uttarakhand, the body of a nurse who had been reported missing was found—she too had been a victim of rape and murder.
These horrific incidents have sparked nationwide protests, with doctors taking to the streets demanding justice and improved safety measures. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) resume its nationwide strike, which it had earlier unilaterally withdrawn after a meeting with union health minister Mr. J P Nadda, additionally the Indian medical Association (IMA) called for the nationwide strike across all hospitals both public and private on Saturday.
The Root of the Issue
The article from DW Magazine quotes, Sulphi Noohu, the President of IMA Kerala, pointing out that in Kerala, at least five attacks on doctors happen every month. In the last three years, more than 200 cases of violence, including threats and intimidation, have been recorded. Looking at the overall data on violence, as per Times of India (TOI) article, it shows that Obstetrics and gynecology departments have the most incidents, with 39% of the cases. Surgery departments are next with 30%, and Internal medicine is third with 27%. Younger, less experienced doctors are more likely to be targeted. A survey by IMA found that 82.7% of doctors feel high levels of stress at work, with 62.8% worried about violence, and 46.3% saying it is their main source of work-related stress.
Types of violence
Doctors face a wide range of violence, including physical assaults, verbal abuse, psychological intimidation, sexual harassment, cyberbullying, and damage to property. These incidents not only target doctors but also extend to their families, leading to severe injuries and, in some cases, fatalities.
The deep-rooted problem
Several factors contribute to the rise in violence against medical professionals:
- Misunderstanding of medical practice:Patients may mistake poor outcomes for medical negligence, unaware of medicine’s inherent uncertainties.
- Overcrowding and overwork:Doctors working up to 100 hours weekly lack time for effective patient communication.
- Socioeconomic pressures: Rising treatment costs fuel patient frustration.
- Insufficient training: Many doctors lack the interpersonal skills needed to navigate tense situations.
These factors combine to create a volatile environment prone to conflict between medical professionals and the public they serve.
A Ray of Hope
As protests continue and doctors demand justice, many people and organizations are stepping up to support healthcare professionals. CoverPrime, is stepping up to protect those who protect us. CoverPrime has built a solid reputation by serving over 100,000 doctors and successfully resolving more than 2,000 claims in recent years. CoverPrime offers a comprehensive policy providing 24/7 risk consultation and extensive coverage for doctors’ personal and professional matters.
CoverPrime offers round-the-clock risk consultation, ensuring that medical professionals have expert advice and support at their fingertips whenever they need it. But that’s just the beginning. CoverPrime policy goes above and beyond, safeguarding both the personal and professional aspects of a doctor’s life. It shields against reputation damage, covering both spoken and written defamation. In our digital age, cyber threats are a growing concern, and CoverPrime addresses this with up to ₹50 lakhs in compensation for cyber fraud incidents, a protection that extends to doctors’ family members as well. Understanding that a doctor’s life isn’t just about patient care, the policy also provides sturdy support for family and workplace disagreements. CoverPrime has left no stone unturned, offering full coverage for legal battles, protection against Harassments, social media attacks, and safeguards against patient-related defamation.
#CoverPrime stands with Doctors, the pride of our nation.
References
https://www.dw.com/en/whats-behind-violence-against-doctors-in-india/a-65869189
