Activists Launch Drive Against "Medical Terrorism"

Guwahati: With more and more people falling prey to medical negligence in the state, a group of victims met here on Saturday to combat what it called 'medical terrorism'.

The victims launched 'Stop Medical Terrorism', a campaign seeking a separate law to combat medical negligence, under the aegis of Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust. An 'SMS and missed-call' service was also launched to help victims of medical negligence join the forum.

"The recent incident of a child receiving HIV-positive blood during a routine transfusion at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) is shocking. Around 52 lakh medical injuries are recorded in the country. 98,000 people lose their lives every year because of medical negligence," said Ankuran Dutta, managing trustee of Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust.

Members said the forum is not aimed at maligning doctors or the medical profession but creating awareness about rising cases of medical negligence in the country. They expressed concern over growing 'capitalism' in the profession which makes the poor and the middle class vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) on Friday filed a writ petition at Gauhati high court on behalf of the father of the boy who received contaminated blood. HRLN sought a court-monitored committee to investigate the incident and punish those responsible.

HRLN, in its petition, said the boy should be kept at GMCH till he recovers from the burn injuries for which he was being treated. It also asked for monetary relief from the state government.

Members of HRLN told TOI that the condition of other state-run health centres and blood banks was also pitiable. Last year, they found that there was not a single blood bank in Baksa district.

No comments:

Post a Comment