New Delhi: The Supreme Court has set up a National Task Force to ensure the safety of doctors and asked them to file an interim report within three weeks. The decision came as the court took up the case of rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor that has shaken the country.
The task force must submit its final report within two months, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said as it noted existing laws do not adequately address institutional safety of doctors.
The task force will comprise Surgeon Vice Admiral R Sarin, Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Dr M Shreenivas, Dr Pratima Murty, Dr Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Dr Saumitra Rawat, Prof Anita Saxena, Head Cardiology, AIIMS Delhi, Prof Pallavi Sapre, Dean Grant Medical College Mumbai, Dr Padma Srivastava, Neurology department, AIIMS.
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The ex-officio members of the task force will comprise the Union Cabinet Secretary, Union Home Secretary, Union Health Secretary, the Chairperson of National Medical Commission, and the President of the National Board of Examiners.
The task force shall make recommendations pertaining to safety, working conditions and the wellbeing of the medical professionals and other cognate matters, said the Chief Justice.
The rape and murder of a doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata early August 9 morning has sparked nationwide strikes by the medical fraternity.
Taking up the case on its own, the court said the nation cannot wait for another rape and murder for things to change on the ground.
Referring to various instances of doctors facing violence by the attendants of patients, the Chief Justice observed that medics have become vulnerable to violence. He also noted that women doctors are targeted more due to ingrained patriarchal biases.
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The case will be heard next on Thursday (August 22).
The bench, which also comprised Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, also blasted the West Bengal government and hospital administration for delaying the filing of the FIR.
The Supreme Court asserted the state government must not use force to suppress those protesting peacefully.
CJI Chandrachud also slammed the Bengal government for failing to stop midnight vandalism at the RG Kar hospital. A mob had gone on a rampage and smashed crucial infrastructure in the emergency ward of the hospital during a midnight protest.
The court also noted the gruelling hours that junior doctors put in and that the lack of security and resting and toilet facility.