It was very shocking to learn about the assault of a medical officer by an inmate inside the Colvale jail, which prompted the Goa branch of the Indian Medical Association to demand stern action against the assailant. This seems like a rare occurrence, but there should be no repetition of such incidents. Jail inmates are usually taken to the nearest government hospital for treatment or are treated by a doctor within the jail premises depending on the severity of the ailment. Being confined within the prison cell could have a negative impact on the psychology of the inmates. Hence when they come across a person from the outside world like a visiting doctor, they could be depicting signs of aggression. This puts the life of the doctor at risk. Severe punishment to the jail inmate responsible for the attack on the doctor will act as a deterrent to such violent acts. However, it would be desirable to also take preventive measures in the future. Depending on the violent and aggressive behaviour of the jail inmates they could either be handcuffed or chained while being examined by a doctor.
