Unruly act, emotional assault, says IMA on health minister’s outburst

Panaji: The Indian Medical Association’s Goa branch on Saturday said it was “deeply disturbed” and “profoundly disappointed” by a video in which health minister Vishwajit Rane is seen yelling at a doctor in front of a camera crew before ordering his suspension.

The IMA called it an “emotional assault on the doctor”, and urged authorities to immediately rescind the suspension and reinstate him.The association strongly condemned the “unacceptable” and “unruly act” by the health minister. It stood firmly with the victimised doctor, and stated that Rane’s actions were “deeply regrettable and unacceptable”. “It not only bypasses due process and natural justice, but also disregards the professional dignity and morale of the entire medical community,” the association stated.“We strongly condemn this arbitrary and high-handed behaviour that has humiliated and victimised a dedicated medical professional in full view of the public and media,” said IMA-Goa state president, Dr Dattaram Dessai, in a press note.“IMA Goa firmly believes that any grievance, no matter how serious, should be addressed through a fair, transparent, and structured inquiry,” the association stated. “Proceeding to suspend a senior doctor from the emergency department without giving him an opportunity to present his side of the facts, besides publicly berating him in tone and manner, amounts to an emotional assault on the duty doctors.”

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA doctors association), in a letter to the chief minister copied to the Prime Minister, Union health minister, IMA, National Human Rights Commission and National Medical Council, has threatened a nationwide agitation including mass protests, in solidarity with GMC doctors if no immediate public apology comes from the health minister.The federation also expressed “deep anguish and unflinching condemnation” at the doctor being publicly humiliated and verbally assaulted for exercising his clinical judgement in declining a non-emergent B 12 injection requested by an acquaintance of the minister. “No doctor should be expected to violate medical norms under pressure from political figures or VIP acquaintances,” it said.The Indian Radiological and Imaging Association’s Goa chapter also “strongly condemned” Rane and his “uncalled-for, abusive, and condescending behaviour” towards the doctor. The association said that the incident creates a precedent to normalise hostility towards medical professionals.“It is absolutely unacceptable that a chief medical officer on duty is subjected to verbal abuse and public humiliation in the presence of media, civilians, patients and hospital staff, with no admission of statement from the doctor,” it said.