Protest rally against assault on doctors

The Mangaluru branches of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) and Canara Orthopaedics Society will take out a protest rally on January 7 (today) against the assault on a doctor in Sirsi by Uttara Kannada MP Anant Kumar Hegde on January 2.

They will urge the government to take legal action against the MP.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, IMA Mangaluru branch president Dr Raghavendra Bhat K said the MP has gone against the values of the democracy by physically assaulting a doctor and other medical staff who were on duty. The MP arrived at TSS Hospital in Sirsi on Monday midnight and assaulted the orthopaedic surgeon Dr Madhukeshwar by beating him up and other medical staff. The association strongly condemns the MP’s act, he said.

The association members have spoken to the DGP in this regard and he has directed the police to register a suo motu case, he said.

The doctor was blamed for the discrepancy of duty, which is a false charge. But in reality, the patient, that is the MP’s mother, was brought to the hospital after 10 days of undergoing a bone fracture. As she could not be operated in that stage, the family members were suggested to shift the patient to Mangaluru. Later, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Madhukeshwar proceeded to the operation theatre to perform a surgery. MP Anant Kumar Hegde who arrived at midnight assaulted and injured the medical staff including a lady nurse at the hospital, he charged.

As per the law, assault on the medical staff on duty is a non-bailable offence. The case has been registered as medico-legal case at the local government hospital, he said.

A silent protest march will be taken out at 10.30 pm on January 7 from IMA House, Attavar, to the deputy commissioner’s office. Later, a memorandum will be submitted to the deputy commissioner. Along with doctors, nurses and technicians will also take part in the protests. The outpatient services will be shut till 2 pm. However, the emergency services will not be hit. The protest will be observed in all districts statewide. Doctors and other medical staff will observe a total bandh in Sirsi. The next day, the doctors will work with black badges. All medical establishments of doctors will shut down their services till 2 pm.

In the memorandum, the authorities will be urged to register the case against the MP under the cognisable and non-bailable sections of the Karnataka Medicare Act, 2009.

Dr Sachidananda Rai, Dr Satish Bhat and Dr K R Kamath were present in the press meet.