PANAJI
Taking cognisance of the episode at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA Doctors Association) has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to condemn the “verbal assault” on the CMO by the Health Minister and has demanded an apology from him within 72 hours, threatening a national doctors’ stir.
In the letter addressed to Sawant, the FAIMA doctors association said the concerned B12 injection is a routine ward-level procedure, not mandated for urgent administration in casualty and no doctor should be expected to violate medical norms under pressure from political figures or VIP acquaintances.
“Such brazen abuse of power not only demeans the dignity of a public servant but also undermines the sanctity of the medical profession, setting a dangerous precedent of coercion and interference in clinical autonomy. FAIMA views this as an attack on the entire medical fraternity,” it said in the letter to Sawant.
An “immediate public apology from the Health Minister to the assaulted CMO”, an “independent inquiry” to investigate the misuse of power, implementation of guidelines restricting non-medical interference in emergency departments and enactment of zero-tolerance policy against VIP bullying or political overreach in hospitals, are the four demands placed by FAIMA before the chief minister in the letter.
FAIMA has also threatened in the letter that it will be compelled to initiate nationwide agitation and mass protests, symbolic black-badge duties and legal redress if no action is taken on their demands within 72 hours.
“Let it be clear. Doctors are not servants of power. They are servants of science, service and humanity,” FAIMA said in the letter to the chief minister.
