The Supreme Court has underscored the urgent need for improved safety standards in hospitals, following the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. During a hearing, the court noted that while states, including West Bengal, have enacted strict laws to protect medical professionals from violence, these legislative measures alone are insufficient when safety practices remain inadequate.
A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud emphasized that even though states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu have enacted laws making violence against healthcare professionals a non-bailable offense with severe penalties, such measures do not tackle the root causes of insecurity in medical environments.
The court’s 16-page order highlighted critical issues faced by healthcare professionals, such as the lack of proper resting facilities during night shifts. Many doctors find themselves resting in patient rooms or public spaces due to the absence of designated duty rooms, especially gender-segregated ones.
Furthermore, the ruling revealed that interns and senior residents are deprived of essential sanitation and nutrition, with the fear of retribution deterring them from raising concerns about their basic needs. The court pointed out that insecure medical units often leave healthcare staff dealing with aggressive patient attendants without adequate support.
Additionally, the lack of transport facilities for staff commuting to and from hospitals, combined with inadequate security measures like CCTV surveillance and screening for weapons, raises significant safety concerns that need to be addressed urgently.
