Mother of doctor assaulted by Shiv Sena corporator demands protection for medical professionals

The mother of Dr Srishti Baviskar one of the two doctors allegedly assaulted by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre at a civicrun hospital in Thane district has demanded stronger protection and safety measures for medical professionalsSpeaking to reporters in Kalyan Sangeeta Baviskar became emotional while condemning Mondayrsquos incident at the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation KDMCrun Shastri Nagar HospitalThe incident triggered widespread outrage after a video surfaced showing Mhatre allegedly slapping and punching Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe and hitting resident medical officer Dr Srishti Baviskar on her hand inside the hospitallsquoSuch attacks on doctors must stoprsquoExpressing concern over repeated attacks on healthcare workers Sangeeta said incidents of violence against medical professionals have become a serious issueThis is not the first incident at this hospital or in society where doctors have been subjected to beatings and injustice We repeatedly come across such incidents where medicos and nonmedicos are assaulted and hospitals are ransacked Sangeeta saidCalling for accountability she said the investigation and legal process should be carried out with complete transparencyThe truth must be place before the citizens That alone will send a strong message to society and act as a deterrent to people with such violent tendencies she saidQuestions raised over safety of healthcare workersSangeeta questioned the lack of security arrangements for doctors who often work long shifts under challenging conditionsIf I can get a guarantee from the government that they will be protected when they work for 4872 hours without proper sleep or fixed meal times Under those volatile circumstances if you launch a murderous attack on professionals what reaction do you expect she askedAccording to KDMC Medical Health Officer Dr Deepa Shukla the two doctors have submitted their resignations to the private agency through which they were appointed While both doctors could not be reached one of their colleagues confirmed the developmentFamily says incident has left doctor traumatisedSangeeta said the attack had deeply affected her daughter and claimed no administrative official had approached the family with any assurance so farWhen Dr Vaibhav was being beaten Srishti intervened and did everything possible to save him Even then her mobile phone was violently thrown away she saidShe added that if any individual is found responsible for wrongdoing corrective measures or legal action should be taken but physical violence cannot be justifiedHospital staff protest after corporatorrsquos arrestAppealing for justice Sangeeta said Dr Srishtirsquos father is also a doctor and the family chose the medical profession to serve societyWe have sent our children into this noble profession to serve the people My only demand is that my daughter and every other member of the affected medical staff gets the justice they deserve she addedMeanwhile Ramesh Mhatre was hospitalised after complaining of ldquochest painrdquo following his arrest officials saidStaff members at the Thane District Civil Hospital where he was admitted after his arrest on Wednesday night staged a protest and demanded his immediate disqualification as a corporatorPolice said three of Mhatrersquos associates have also been arrested in connection with the caseWith inputs from PTI