Mumbai: PIL filed against JJ resident doctors on strike

Alleging harassment and oppression by senior doctors, at J.J. hospital, a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the High Court demanding that action be taken against the resident doctors of the hospital.

After the resignation of Coordinator of Cataract Mukt Maharashtra Dr. Tatya Rao Lana and Head Professor of Ophthalmology Department Dr Ragini Parekh were accepted by the state government, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) called off the strike on Sunday. A committee is functioning for redressal of grievances of resident doctors. However, without resorting to legal avenues for their grievances, around 750 resident doctors went on strike against the senior doctors. 

Resident doctors of GT, St. George and Cama hospitals also participated in the strike, affecting patient care in these hospitals. The main demand has been made in the petition that this strike of the resident doctors is illegal and action should be taken against the striking resident doctors so that such incidents do not recur. The petition is likely to come up for hearing on June 15. Social activist Sanjay Gurav has filed this Public Interest Litigation.

Many patients suffered during the strike called by resident doctors, surgeries were postponed. As a result, many patients were inconvenienced, it has been claimed in the petition. These resident doctors went on strike indefinitely without due legal process. The petitioner has also claimed that the strike called by him was illegal and violated the Maharashtra Essential Services Act while demanding action against the doctor.

The striking doctors have violated the code of ethics for doctors by calling an illegal strike. That is why the State Medical Council should be ordered to take disciplinary action against them. In addition, the state government should be directed to formulate a policy under the Essential Services Act to control alleged illegal strikes by doctors and health care workers. Similarly, the petition has also demanded that the details of how many of the patients admitted during the strike were sent home and how many surgeries were postponed.