Law to protect doctors, hospitals invoked

Law to protect doctorsTwo days after a mob vandalised a civic hospital in Chembur, the police invoked provisions of the special law introduced last year to protect doctors and hospitals against attacks. The police registered a case against 20 to 30 unidentified people, allegedly part of the mob that damaged Maa General Hospital.

However, no cases were registered for violence at the BMC-run Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, and the state-run GT Hospital near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on Monday.

Relatives of two patients who died had damaged property at the three public hospitals, alleging medical negligence.

After the attacks, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to expedite doing a security audit of its hospitals. “We will do the needful to beef up security at hospitals,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar.

Maa Hospital authorities hope to get closed circuit television cameras to monitor visitors’ movements. “We will convey this to the BMC,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr Ajit Kale. The BMC had ordered an inquiry into the incidents at Maa and Rajawadi hospitals. Mhaiskar said the report was expected by the weekend.

Dr W. B. Tayade of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research said he had asked JJ Hospital dean, Dr R. Inamdar, to inquire into the incident at GT Hospital.

About 40 people vandalised Maa Hospital after the death of Aarti Khaire (16). Her relatives alleged doctors were negligent.

The police first booked the mob for rioting and applied provisions of the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act, 2008, on Wednesday. “We hope to arrest them soon,” said Senior Inspector Balasaheb Pachundkar. Offenders are liable for up to three years imprisonment and Rs 50,000 fine.