Physicians out to convince cops following release of culprits in last five attacks

Though the police had nabbed the culprits responsible for five attacks on doctors at Ruby Hall Clinic and KEM Hospital in the past three months, all these offenders walked out on bail soon after they were arrested. The police officers were clearly in the dark about the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act, 2008, that states that attacks on doctors is a non-bailable offence with three years’ imprisonment.

On Tuesday, the Indian Medical Association gave copies of the ordinance to the police. As many as 56 police stations have displayed the copies of the ordinance, said Dr DK Shirole, former president of the IMA state unit who met the Commissioner of Police Satyapal Singh on Tuesday.

It was in June this year that doctors were assured of protection from attacks. However, the ordinance could not be converted into a Bill as the legislative council had been adjourned by then. The Maharashtra governor had extended the tenure of the ordinance and the winter session of the Assembly is expected to convert it into a Bill and later an Act.

This technical lapse had led to the non-publication of the ordinance in the gazette. The copies are available only now, according to Dr Dilip Sarda, IMA city unit chief.

Among the penalties in the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act, 2008, is a Rs 50,000 fine on anyone who attacks a doctor or a hospital employee. What should dissuade vandalism of hospital property is a provision that anyone causing such damage would be fined twice the value of the property that he or she has destroyed.

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