80% doctors concerned about violence at work: IMA Survey

80% doctors concerned about violence at work: IMA Survey A survey conducted by IMA for consultant specialist doctors has revealed the frightening epidemic of violence against doctors. New Delhi, Jan 09, 2017: IMA is committed to promoting and providing a secure environment to healthcare professionals to practice their work. In this regard, a survey was conducted documenting the concerns of consultant specialist doctors regarding increasing incidences of violence and aggressive behaviour aimed at them. One of the most staggering results of the survey suggests that about 80% of doctors have had to face some degree of violence or aggression from patients and their relatives. Padma Shri Awardee Dr K.K Aggarwal - National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) & Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement said, “Maximum violent outbursts were faced by doctors working in emergency care. According to 90% of the doctors surveyed, patient’s relatives often subject doctors to unruly behaviour, verbal abuse and physical assault post surgery”. Some other significant findings of the survey were: • 83% of the doctors said that their patients get upset if the doctors are late in their appointments. • 30% of the patient’s relatives do not stand up when the doctors enter in patient’s room. • 17% of the consultants felt that fee splitting is unethical. “One other problem in this context is under-reporting of such incidences by doctors. While doctors may feel confident in voicing their concerns under the veil of an anonymous survey but when it come to routine practice, they are often reluctant to report such behaviour either out of fear or due to regard to patient’s distress and well-being, which they consider of supreme concern. Most of the reported cases were when the issue had gone out of hand, and the doctors feel that their own or family’s life is under threat”, added Dr Aggarwal. The rising incidences of such cases highlight the urgent need of boosting security measures at hospital premises. Strengthening doctor- patient relationships to ensure accountability and openness is also likely to play a key role in reducing violence and diffusing tense situations often encountered in the medical setting.