Minister Veena George tables new bill: 7 years imprisonment for attacking healthcare workers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Veena George has introduced a bill in the assembly that will bring punitive action of up to seven years imprisonment for attacking doctors. Young house surgeon Vandana Das’s murder in Kottarakkara taluk hospital was a catalyst for introducing the bill. Earlier, the maximum punishment for attacking doctors was just three years of imprisonment.

At the same time, the opposition and some members of the ruling party pointed out serious flubs in the bill and presaged the law getting misused by certain people, and called for more consideration of the bill before adopting hasty amendment steps.

Opposition leaders V.D. Satheesan and Mathew T. Thomas pointed out that the amendment of sections 290,295 of the Indian Penal Code in the new law is certain to invite confusion. The Speaker ruled that the subject committee should look into the matter and clarify it.

Meanwhile, MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said it will be a waste of an amendment if the people are not ready to follow it out of its complex nature. MLA Ganesh Kumar demanded action to ensure justice for the patients and ensure that the law is not misused. The bill was referred to the subject committee.