SHILLONG, June 15 - Doctors in the Meghalaya capital have extended support to protesting junior doctors in West Bengal while expressing a �sense of humiliation and outrage at the frequent incidents of assault on medical professionals in the country.�
�We wish to express our sense of humiliation and outrage at the frequent incidents of assault on medical professionals in our country,� Chief Medical Officer Dr Gordon Rangad said on behalf of the medical staff of the Nazareth Hospital.
Stating such incidents of attack like the one on Dr Paribaha Mukhopadhyay of the NRS Medical College, West Bengal, are increasing all over India, Rangad sought stringent steps to ensure the rule of law and safety of citizens.
Mukhopadhyay and one of his colleagues were physically attacked by relatives and acquaintances of an elderly person who died at the hospital. The attackers alleged negligence on part of the doctors at the NRS Medical College.
Acknowledging instances of mistakes and negligence, he said members of the public have the right to take such cases against individual or institution to the court of law for redress.
�It appears to be the rule of lawlessness rather than the rule of law. We are not law enforcement professionals who may expect to be physically assaulted in the line of duty,� Rangad said.
On the other hand, the NEIGRIHMS Resident Doctors� Association condemned the �barbaric attack� on Mukhopadhyay. The association said the inhuman attack on the doctor is unacceptable.
�We are shocked and enraged at the indifference and the failure of the Government of West Bengal to protect the doctors� community working there. This inhuman act is way beyond any kind of verbal condemnation,� the association said.
