When powerful political figures bypass hospital’s local policies, they convey the message that local management is irrelevant and governance is optional
The recent incident at Goa Medical College, where the state’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane berated and summarily suspended a duty doctor in the emergency department during a surprise visit, serves as a profoundly troubling reminder of how easily power can be misused and how fragile the professional dignity of healthcare workers can become in politicised systems. This incident illustrates an act of public humiliation, executed with authority but lacking compassion, institutional respect, and due process.
In the video, the Minister enters the casualty department unannounced, sits in a chair (reportedly the doctor's), and subjects the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), who is seen standing across the table, to a barrage of rebukes. The doctor is denied the opportunity to explain himself, ordered to remain silent, and ultimately dismissed on the spot.
Throughout the exchange, the tone is authoritarian, the language is threatening, and the spectacle is public. It is a scene that should disturb not only healthcare professionals but all citizens concerned about institutional integrity and democratic governance.
Misuse of power
This behaviour is emblematic of a broader damaging drift: the normalisation of disrespect for public service, especially towards healthcare workers.
Firstly, the Minister's conduct violated the principle of natural justice. Regardless of the grievance or urgency, a professional, particularly in a high-stress emergency department, deserves to be heard. Summary judgement, verbal threats, and public reprimands reflect a mindset reminiscent of punitive masters from the slave era.
Secondly, the incident undermines clinical autonomy. Healthcare professionals operate within complex ethical and operational frameworks. By directly overriding the hospital's management structure, the Minister has not only wronged the individual doctor but has also called into question the hospital’s governance.
Thirdly, this episode sends a chilling message: that doctors are expendable and can be publicly humiliated without consequence. In an under-resourced and overstretched public hospital system, where doctors routinely endure long hours, chronic staff shortages, and emotionally draining caseloads, such authoritarian displays not only erode morale and professional dignity but also accelerate burnout and drive talented young professionals away from public service.
Why this matters
India’s public healthcare system relies on the dedication of thousands of committed professionals who frequently work in under-resourced environments, balancing clinical demands with the limited healthcare capacity available.
Their commitment deserves respect, not humiliation and shame. The emergency department is a high-pressure environment where protocols are followed and decisions are made swiftly, often with limited information. Expecting perfection at all times is not only unrealistic - it is unjust.
Furthermore, when powerful political figures bypass hospital’s local policies, they convey the message that local management is irrelevant and governance is optional. This is not how accountable systems function.
If there were indeed failures in patient care, the appropriate course of action would involve an inquiry led by the hospital administration, followed by corrective measures. Summary suspension not only disregards the process but also undermines employees’ rights and exposes the management to legal scrutiny.
A better future
What happened at Goa Medical College must become a turning point - not just in outrage, but in reform. Here is a framework to ensure such incidents are neither repeated nor normalised:
1. Codify political engagement
Ministers and government officials should be required to engage with healthcare professionals through structured channels.
Surprise visits should be welcomed, but they must be guided by codes of conduct that prohibit public reprimands or unilateral action.
2. Empower hospital governance
The Medical Superintendent and Dean must be empowered to act as gatekeepers of the institutional process. No disciplinary action should bypass internal review boards.
The autonomy of clinical and administrative leaders must be upheld even in the face of political pressure.
3. Establish legal safeguards for healthcare workers
State medical councils and national associations must advocate for legislation that protects healthcare professionals from public humiliation, abuse, or political interference.
Any breach should be subject to judicial review, and public officials should be held accountable for procedural violations.
4. Promote leadership training for public officials
Elected representatives should receive foundational training in administrative ethics, conflict resolution, and institutional leadership.
Emotional intelligence and respect for institutional roles should be non-negotiable attributes of public office.
This troubling incident is more than a local controversy; it questions our shared values. It compels us to ask: Do we desire a healthcare system governed by fear or by respect and dignity? Do we want public servants who wield power to humiliate and punish, or leaders who listen with empathy, act with integrity, and support those who serve the public every day?
Respect is not merely a courtesy; it forms the foundation of effective governance. Power, when unchecked, leads to tyranny. Within our healthcare institutions, where lives are saved and hope is restored, we must foster a culture where power pauses to listen before it acts, and where justice is always guided by respect.
Let this be the last time a doctor is humiliated. Let this be the first time we say - not anymore.
