Doctors and nurses save patients in the city, but should also be able to save themselves when under attack. Keeping in mind the current status among the medical fraternity across the country, medical staff in Bengaluru are signing up for self-defense classes.

A nationwide stir had generated when the attack on two junior doctors in Kolkata’s Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, by an enraged mob, raised awareness among doctors, nurses and other medical staff about the importance of protecting themselves.

These medical professionals are training to be Bruce Lees of their own hospitals to save themselves in dangerous situations. These self-defense techniques are being taught by a karate expert and coach of Indian women’s Karate team, Dr. M G Prasad, who also runs Zen Fitness Centre.

He has been training martial arts techniques to many people around including the women police force, and says these techniques are important for people to learn to defend themselves. Prasad has trained 55 doctors from two different hospitals who have approached him for self-defense classes.

One of the doctors who is part of the programme had said that for ages, doctors were respected as ‘Vaidyo Narayano Hari’ (The doctor is god). But, a section of people who don’t understand the ethics are resorting to violence by beating up doctors and damaging hospital properties. All doctors try to give the best treatment to their patients but people don’t understand this. It is high time doctors should learn self-defense techniques to defend themselves. These techniques are not to attack back but only to defend themselves.

Neeraj Lal, Vice-President of Rainbow Children’s Hospital, said that, Doctors’ Day is observed to honor the physician and it is also a day to dedicate to doctors who spend sleepless nights to give the best treatment to patients. Still, it is very unfortunate that doctors are getting attacked. It is also necessary for doctors to be updated on various techniques in martial arts, as it will not only help them in hospitals but also in their lives.

Dr. Srividya Rao Vasista, chief of dental department at People Tree Hospital in Yeshwantpur, also said that fights and raised voices are scenarios witnessed at hospitals frequently. She said that they provide audio and visual counselling to avoid miscommunication. Self-defense is very necessary in today’s age.