Violence in hospitals

Hospitals are often places filled with tension, stress, and deep emotions. They are spaces where pain, suffering, anxiety, helplessness, and cries of distress are common. It is hard to expect smiles or moments of lightness in such an environment. Doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff usually work under heavy pressure and urgency. In such a setting, even a small issue can quickly escalate, sometimes like a volcano ready to erupt. A tragic incident recently took place at the Thamarassery Taluk Hospital in Kozhikode. The father of a nine-year-old girl who died while being treated for amoebic meningoencephalitis attacked a doctor with a machete, accusing him of medical negligence. The injured doctor, Dr P.T. Vipin, is currently being treated in a private hospital.

While it is easy to understand the grief and emotional pain of a father who lost his young daughter, violence against doctors or the destruction of hospital property can never be justified. At the same time, cases of actual medical errors have also been reported in recent days. For instance, in Palakkad, a young girl who came in with a serious deep injury on the hand was sent home with just a plaster. Later, her right hand had to be amputated due to the doctor’s mistake, and action was taken against the doctor after an inquiry. Such cases must be dealt with through strict legal and disciplinary action, not through anger or revenge.

According to the Health Department, in the last five years, around 75 healthcare workers, including doctors, have faced attacks from patients or their attendants. In the past year alone, 15 such cases were reported. After the murder of Dr Vandana Das at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital in May 2023, the state government amended the Hospital Protection Act. However, many of the safety measures promised, such as safety audits, police help desks, CCTV surveillance, and assigning multiple doctors in emergency wards, were never fully implemented. As a result, attacks in hospitals continue.

The government has a responsibility to ensure that health workers can perform their duties without fear and with peace of mind, while also ensuring that patients receive proper care and comfort. One major reason for conflict in hospitals is the lack of clear communication with patients, attendants, or visitors. The absence of a proper system to share accurate and timely information often leads to misunderstandings and tension. Setting up computer-based reception or help desk systems in government hospitals- at least from the taluk level upward- would not require heavy investment and could help prevent many such problems. The government must act without delay to ensure both better service for patients and safety for healthcare workers.