The Indian Medical Association’s (IMA), Surat chapter has designed and formed a rapid action force (RAF) including medico-legal experts with an objective to protect doctors and healthcare workers from attacks and abuses.

On Saturday, Dr Vinesh Shah, a medico-legal expert was appointed as the chairman of the RAF committee, which is set up by the IMA-Surat. IMA-office bearers stated that the doctors and healthcare workers had faced several attacks many times in the early months of lockdown.

Dr Shah said while talking with TOI, this was the first time that the IMA has formed a force to protect the doctors and medical staff. They will also provide legal support to the doctors who would become a target of violence by patients’ relatives. There would be a completely separate team of advocates to manage such cases.

Dr Parul Vadgama, immediate past president of IMA Surat, told TOI that the morale of the medical and associated healthcare employees is very important to fight against the pandemic and such repeated assaults on them can demoralize the whole community.

Source: ET Healthworld