KOCHI: 'We see that girl as our daughter. Poor girl... she fell in front of the accused at the last moment. How much fear and pain she must have felt. I can't even think about it. Her sacrifice will never be forgotten. The court pays tribute..' Justice Devan Ramachandran's words stumbled in the High Court while considering the incident of Dr. Vandana Das' stabbing at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital. He wiped his eyes after removing his glasses.
'A smart girl who dreamed of a big medical career. Vandana lost her life because she wanted to become a doctor. A family's hope is shattered. How will you face those parents? It was said many times that violence against doctors and health workers should be dealt with strictly to prevent such a tragic incident from happening. Didn't it finally happen?" he asked.
A division bench consisting of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Dr. Kauser Edappagath held an urgent special sitting and considered the matter. They criticized the government and the police in the incident. They also said that if doctors cannot be protected, then the hospitals should be closed
A petition filed by the University of Health citing the incident was also considered. The bench is already considering a petition to prevent violence against health workers.
Didn't the police have guns?
The division bench also inquired whether the policemen who came to the hospital with the accused had guns or not. Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. Why couldn't the police provide protection? Soldiers would have given their lives to protect them. Why are guns given to the police? Women and children should have been protected. Can such incidents happen anywhere else in the country? The police failed completely.
Following the incident, the doctors are all on strike. How can you blame them? How many patients must have suffered due to the strike? If anything happens to these patients who will take responsibility? What a crisis this is. Is it not the responsibility of the government and the police to prevent such incidents from happening? Shouldn't the police be able to predict violence?
The young doctor was attacked while the police were watching. The accused's actions should have been monitored. You can't do anything if you are checking your phone. The police stayed outside even though they knew that people including lady doctors were in the hospital. Police abroad come with stun guns. There is only Lathi here.
Policemen were also injured. Aren't they trained to prevent attacks? The accused could not be subdued even with the policemen getting stabbed. How will the girls doing house surgery go for duty at night? Will anyone let their daughters go for house surgery in Taluk hospitals now? The young doctor who went for emergency service returned home in a coffin. The division bench also said that doctors and health workers should be given special treatment.