Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jun 4: After a woman alleged that a few doctors in the city had denied her treatment for Covid during her pregnancy and that a doctor threatened her and attempted to murder her, the members of the Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) discarded the allegations by the woman deeming it to be false.

The office-bearers of AMC said that there is a persistent atmosphere of fear and a hostile working atmosphere for doctors managing Covid cases in private hospitals.

Addressing a press meet here Medico-Legal Cell chairperson of AMC Dr Sathish Bhat said that though the doctors and staff in the hospitals are attacked or abused, the police department has failed to take proper action against the accused. There have been three separate incidents that took place in different private hospitals in the city, but still, the police department did not take any necessary action.

Though an FIR has been registered against the accused, the police are not arresting them. Though there are provisions in the law like Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Medicare Service Personnel and Damage to Property in Medicare Service Institutions Act, 2009 and Karnataka Epidemic Act the accused have not been arrested while in some instance cases they have not even been booked, he alleged.

"The woman who made the allegations against the doctors is false. Moreover, the woman never listened to the advice given by her doctor. During this pandemic, the doctors are doing their best to provide treatment for Covid patients," he said.

Delay in following instructions of Doctor led to a desperate situation where complex treatment was needed but they could get it only after visiting 5-6 hospitals.

Denying the woman's allegation that Dr Priya Ballal refused to treat her as she was pregnant and suffering from Covid infection, Dr Bhat state it very unlikely for a doctor to make such a statement. "The police should arrest the prime accused who has manhandled the doctor," he argued.

Dr Yusuf Kumble, AMC Insurance Cell chairperson said, "Those who break the law should be punished. Even if there are 98% of good people in the world, 2% of the bad people can cause unrest in society. These people do not belong to any religion or caste but will only indulge in anti-social elements. They should be exposed."

He also questioned why do doctors deny treatment or kill a patient. The allegations made against the doctors are false.

Dr Murlidhar, Dr Priya Ballal shared their experience stating the despite of busy schedule they have treated patients and never denied treatment to any of the patients in their professional carrier." The false accusation made by the woman against them and their profession have severely hurt us and they pained by this."

Dr Priya Ballal said that in her 21 years of experience she has not denied treatment to any patient. Being a gynaecologist, I have examined several Covid patients. "The woman has alleged that I have given her a wrong advice which is untrue and such accusations are not acceptable."

Murlidhar also said all doctors and staff in Wenlock hospital are working tirelessly to provide treatment to the Covid patients.

Dr Jayaprakash who has done his MD in critical care medicine from Tata Memorial Center speaking on the occasion said, "If I wanted to earn money, I had several opportunities to make money by joining various medical institutions abroad, Mumbai or in Bengaluru. But, I decided to serve in my city. We are away from our family and committed to our work. If I start at 8 am, I return home at 3 am. I have treated the lady in her critical condition. I am pained by the false allegations made against me. The fact that despite the complaint, the police have not arrested the main accused is disheartening."

It may be recalled that one Kadheeja Jasmine had filed a complaint with the police that her gynaecologist Dr Priya Ballal denied providing treatment to her. The complainant had also alleged that few doctors threatened her and even attempted to murder her.

As you would know, more than 1,000 doctors have passed away due to corona, while serving society as frontline warriors across the country. Karnataka right now continues to be in the top 2-3 states for corona cases in India. DK district is having close to 1,000 cases daily during the second wave, even though the stringent restrictions have been in force for more than a month. While the number of deaths with other frontline Covid warriors is less this time unlike in the first wave, healthcare workers who have died due to Corona refuse to decline.

Over the last few days, many of our members have contacted us about their concern and fear in handling the behaviour of relatives of critically ill patients admitted with corona in various private hospitals of Mangaluru. This is different from the situation in the past, as we are in the middle of a pandemic. By now all know well, no country in the world can be completely prepared during a pandemic, with complete facilities for every person who falls sick. This is the harsh truth. In such a situation, when family members get emotional, is it fair to make the doctors face their anger, especially if hospital beds, oxygen supply, ventilator/ICU beds or critical medicines are not available?

In one incident at Indiana Hospital on May 19, the patient's relative forced himself into an ICU and abused the hospital manager and lady doctor attending the patient. A police complaint was made the same day, but it was registered only as an NC complaint.

Following the death of a high-risk 60 year patient in Mangala Hospital, despite two weeks of treatment, there was an abuse of hospital staff, vandalism in casualty even after the bulk of lawfully raised invoice was reduced by 3/4th. A police complaint was lodged on September 17, 2020, and FIR 0083/2020 at Kadri PS was registered. There was major defamation on social media by the accused, but to date, the police have not arrested the accused, and stringent sections under Epidemic Act were not included in the FIR.

Most disturbing is the defamation and allegations on the entire medical fraternity following the treatment provided to a lady who was into her third trimester who developed complications after the Covid infection. It resulted in her needing ventilator care and caused the termination of her pregnancy. Delay in following the instructions of the doctor led to a desperate situation where complex treatment was needed but they could get it only after visiting five to six hospitals. Now, this has led to allegations of mistreatment with abuse and threat to doctors. With the arrest of a few of their family and friends, one Khadeeja Jasmine, initially called her gynaecologist Dr Priya Ballal on May 17, 2021 complaining of cough, cold and fever. She did not follow the advice of undergoing a Covid test and come with a report immediately so that a checkup could be done. Instead, she came to the hospital two days after she reported breathing difficulties. She was given appropriate medical advice, but she still stayed home. By the time she came the next day for admission, finding a hospital bed with Ventilator in Covid ICU, it was difficult to do a C-section on her. Where it was available, the patient did not want treatment, and where they agreed to do the treatment, bed was not available. This led to further delay and deterioration of her health. However, fortunately, a healthy baby was delivered by C-section in Lady Goschen hospital on May 20, 2021. Thanks to the heroic support provided by doctors in a difficult situation, the mother also recovered after another week.

What was unfortunate was the blame game after delivery against the very doctors who were treating her, which turned to allegations by the mother that the doctors are trying to kill her. Her attenders called the doctors to discuss, which led to the manhandling, abuse, a threat with bodily harm and a fatal attack on three of the doctors by the mob.

Ironically these very people are the ones who were responsible for saving her life, as well as that of her unborn child. They changed hospitals twice even after delivery. Though doctors went with a complaint against the mob, FIR was registered the next day. Even though the entire incident was captured on CCTV, the arrest did not place until the next week.