Xplorich
NEW DELHI: A day after the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of AIIMS wrote to President Droupadi Murmu over the Jantar Mantar crackdown and the continued hospitalisation of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, the RDA of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday also sought the President’s intervention, raising concerns over patient autonomy, medical ethics, the independence of public healthcare institutions and the reported events at Jantar Mantar.In a four-page representation, the Safdarjung RDA said Wangchuk’s medical condition and the need for continued hospitalisation should remain matters of independent clinical judgement, but every competent patient is entitled to dignity, informed consent and treatment in accordance with established medical ethics and the Constitution.The association said reports suggesting Wangchuk, despite being a competent patient, was allegedly not permitted to avail Leave Against Medical Advice (LAMA), if accurate, raise “serious concerns regarding informed consent, personal liberty and constitutional rights”. Hospitals, it said, are institutions of healing and should not be perceived as places of detention except where restrictions are authorised by law and follow due process.The RDA also questioned the security arrangements at Safdarjung Hospital during Wangchuk’s admission. Referring to reports and publicly available visuals, it said restricted access to hospital areas, extensive deployment of security personnel and disruption of routine hospital functioning, if established, warranted an independent examination.It also called for an independent, impartial and time-bound inquiry into the reported events at Jantar Mantar, citing reports and videos indicating the use of force, including lathi charge and tear gas, against peaceful protesters. The association further referred to allegations of intimidation and physical misconduct involving faculty members and students of Lady Hardinge Medical College, saying these too required an impartial investigation.The RDA said such incidents risk eroding public confidence in democratic and healthcare institutions and place healthcare professionals at greater risk of hostility despite having no role in administrative or political decisions. It added that hospital administrations must remain independent custodians of medical ethics and patient welfare and should never be perceived as aligned with non-medical or political interests.Describing its appeal as “not political”, the association urged the President to order an independent inquiry into the recent events, safeguard competent patients’ right to seek Leave Against Medical Advice wherever legally permissible, examine whether security arrangements at Safdarjung Hospital affected patient care and hospital functioning, ensure accountability if constitutional rights or medical ethics were violated, investigate allegations of excessive force against peaceful protesters and protect healthcare professionals from intimidation and violence.The Safdarjung RDA’s representation comes a day after the AIIMS RDA sought the President’s intervention over the Jantar Mantar incident and Wangchuk’s continued hospitalisation, raising concerns over patient autonomy, constitutional rights and medical ethics. With Tuesday’s letter, resident doctors from two of the country’s premier government hospitals have now publicly sought intervention over the issue.The representation was signed by RDA President Dr Devaunshi Kaul, Vice-President Dr Rahul, General Secretary Dr Ayush Raj, Joint Secretary Dr Amit Yadav and Treasurer Dr Rohit Rathi.
