Safety, in the line of duty
Doctors must be protected while they are working with patientsMedical science is so advanced today, it has extended longevity and enhanced quality of life in ways thought impossible in the past, and yet, life must end in death. For those who lose someone dear to them, there is anger, disbelief and lack of acceptance, and this is sometimes unleashed on the hospital, doctors and nurses. This is why Kerala’s move to amend the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, to fortify defences against attacks on health-care institutions and workers is not only welcome but is also essential intervention. The death of a young house surgeon, Vandana Das, at the hands of an ‘inebriated’ patient during a routine medical examination in Kerala has not only shocked the community but has also revived fear among health-care workers about their own safety. Doctors have organised protests across the country, condemning this attack and urging authorities to ensure protection. While this particular incident might have been an outlier in terms of how it occurred, recent history in the country is replete with instances of co-ordinated assaults on health-care workers by irate patients or their attendees disappointed with health outcomes. The warriors in the hospitals, unlike those battling on enemy lines, do not sign up for assault in the line of duty. It is the duty of the state and the community to protect them and ensure they are shielded from assault and abuse, verbal and physical. The Kerala amendment is progressive in that it proposes to bring verbal abuse and violent acts causing simple and grievous hurt under the purview of the Act. Enhanced jail term (up to three years) and a hefty fine (up to ₹50,000) for those found guilty are also being prescribed. The government has proposed time-bound speedy disposal of such cases besides designating one court in each district as a special court to deal with these cases.Other States need to consider interventions on similar lines too. While the law itself needs to be potent, its implementation should also promote deterrence, driving home the government’s commitment toward seriously handling assault on the health-care workforce. Since sagacity is unlikely to prevail in emergency and critical situations, it will be prudent to ensure that some measure of protection, security staff, for instance, is made available at private and public hospitals. It is unfortunate that a young doctor’s life was snuffed out even as it had hardly begun, but it is very much in the hands of the States to ensure that no such sacrifices are demanded at the altar of patient care anymore.
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Sagacity (noun) – wisdom, insight, deep insight, intelligence, understanding, बुद्धिमत्ता
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Term (noun) – period, spell, stint, duration
अवधि
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Condemn (verb) – censure, criticize, castigate, attack, denounce
निंदा करना
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Disbelief (noun) – incredulity, incredulousness, lack of belief, scepticism, doubt
अविश्वास
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In terms of (phrase) – with regard to, as regards, regarding,
के संबंध में
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Amend (verb) – revise, alter, change, modify, qualify
संशोधन करना
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Hefty (adjective) – weighty, heavy, large, substantial
भारी
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Battle (verb) – fight, struggle, combat, fighting, conflict
लड़ना
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Amendment (noun) – change, modification, revision, alteration, improvement
संशोधन
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Promote (verb) – encourage, advance, support, foster, boost
बढ़ावा देना
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Unfortunate (adjective) – unlucky, hapless, out of luck, down on one's luck
दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण
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Propose (verb) – suggest, submit, offer, put forward, advance
प्रस्तावित करना
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For instance (phrase) – For example, As, Such as
उदाहरण के लिए
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Outcome (noun) – result, end result, consequence, conclusion
परिणाम
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Replete (with) (adjective) – filled, full, packed, complete
भरा हुआ
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Disposal (noun) – the action or process of getting rid of something.
निपटान, छुटकारा पाना
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Abuse (noun) – Mistreatment, exploitation, wronging
दुर्व्यवहार
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Enhanced (adjective) – Improved, increased, augmented, boosted, developed
बेहतर, बढ़ा हुआ
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Hardly (adverb) – scarcely, barely, only just, not much
मुश्किल से
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Purview (noun) – ambit, scope, range, reach
दायरा
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Intervention (noun) – Involvement, interference, mediation, engagement, intrusion
हस्तक्षेप
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Unlike (preposition) – dissimilar to, different from, in contrast to
असमान
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Essential (adjective) – Necessary, Crucial, Vital, Important, Indispensable
आवश्यक
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Longevity (noun) – Duration, Endurance, Permanence, Lifespan, Persistency
दीर्घायु
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Instance (noun) – Example, occurrence, case, illustration, incident
उदाहरण
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Commitment (noun) – Dedication, devotion, allegiance, loyalty, responsibility
प्रतिबद्धता
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Prudent (adjective) – Wise, sensible, cautious, careful, judicious
विवेकी
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Unlikely (adjective) – Improbable, doubtful, dubious, questionable, uncertain.
संभावना नहीं
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Ensure (verb) – Guarantee, secure, confirm, make certain, warrant
सुनिश्चित करना
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Time-bound (adjective) – Scheduled, time-limited, time-sensitive, deadline-driven
समय-बद्ध
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Urge (verb) – Encourage, push, persuade, prompt
प्रेरित करना
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Dear (adjective) – Cherished, beloved, valued, treasured, precious
प्यारा
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Irate (adjective) – Angry, infuriated, incensed, enraged, fuming
क्रोधित
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Address (verb) – tackle, handle, manage, deal with, confront
निपटाना
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In the line of duty (phrase) – while doing one's job
अपना काम करते समय
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Extended (adjective) – Protracted, long, prolonged, stretched
बढ़ाया हुआ
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In ways (phrase) – to a certain extent
मायनों में
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Lose someone to something (phrase) – experience death of someone because of something.
किसी चीज के कारण किसी की मृत्यु होना
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Unleash (verb) – to let happen or begin something powerful that, once begun, cannot be controlled
प्रारंभ होना
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Fortify (verb) – Strengthen, reinforce, bolster, toughen
मजबूत करना
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Defence (noun) – Protection, shield, safeguard, security
रक्षा
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Inebriated (adjective) – Drunk, intoxicated, tipsy, under the influence
नशे में
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Outlier (noun) – Exception, anomaly, abnormality, deviant
अपवाद
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Assault (noun) – Attack, aggression, violence, onslaught
हमला
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Attendee (noun) – Participant, visitor, guest, attendee
उपस्थित व्यक्ति
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Sign up (phrasal verb) – commit oneself to a period of employment, education, or in the armed forces.
नौकरी शुरू करना
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Shield (verb) – Protect, guard, safeguard, defend, secure
बचाना
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Verbal (adjective) – Oral, spoken, uttered, said
मौखिक
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Progressive (adjective) – Advanced, forward-looking, forward-thinking, modern
प्रगतिशील
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Speedy (adjective) – Quick, fast, rapid, swift
शीघ्र
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Designate (verb) – Appoint, nominate, name, select
नामित करना
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On similar lines (phrase) – In a similar way, likewise, similarly
इसी तर्ज पर
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Potent (adjective) – Powerful, strong, forceful, effective
शक्तिशाली
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Drive home (phrase) – Emphasize, underscore, stress, highlight
स्पष्ट करना
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Snuff out (phrasal verb) – Extinguish, eliminate, put an end to, wipe out, quash
अंत करना
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Sacrifice (noun) – Offering, forfeiture, renunciation, surrender, loss
बलिदान
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At the altar of (phrase) – In the name of, for the sake of, in order to achieve
के नाम पर
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Co-ordinated (adjective) – Organized, arranged, structured, systematized
समन्वित
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Deterrence (noun) – Discouragement, disincentive, dissuasion
अवरोध
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Prevail (verb) – Win, triumph, succeed, dominate
प्रबल होना