The High Court says it finds strikes at hospitals and clinics to “justify negligence” unethical.
The court’s observation came on Monday while hearing a petition over medical malpractice.
Some miscreants are tainting the medical profession and people now go abroad for treatment fearing malpractice and negligence, said the bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and KM Kamrul Kader.
The court’s observation came in reference to private hospitals and clinics suspending services on Sunday following raids led by RAB executive magistrates in at least three hospitals, when the Max Hospital, facing allegations of medical malpractice leading to a child's death, was penalised for other irregularities.
The Private Hospital and Lab Owners' Association, however, called off the strike on Monday.
On Jun 28, Chattaogram-based journalist Rubel Khan’s daughter Rafida Khan Raifa was admitted to the city's Max Hospital with cold and throat ache. The three-year-old died while undergoing treatment the next day.
Amid allegations of negligence and wrong treatment by the family an inquiry led by the civil surgeon was formed.
The probe found all three doctors guilty of negligence and recommended steps against them.
It said they found lack of experience and sincerity among the doctors when the girl began experiencing the intense seizures.
On Sunday, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim instructed the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council to take steps against the negligent doctors.
On Monday, the High Court was hearing a rule issued over the incident of 20 people losing eyesight following surgeries at a health centre in Chuadanga in March this year.
In line with a previous court order, Directorate of Health Services chief Abul Kalam Azad appeared in court.
Referring to reports on national dailies, the court told Azad that it finds the strike by Chattogram hospitals unfortunate.
“This is not related to today’s matter, but since you (directorate of health services chief) are here ... People resort to three kinds of professionals only when they are in trouble— police, lawyer and doctor. Citizens will suffer if these professions are destroyed by some miscreants’ activities,” it said.
The court said mistakes can happen as doctors are human.
“But it’s unethical to call strikes to defend mistakes,” it said asking Health Services Director General Azad to take initiatives.
Azad replied that he completely agrees with the court’s observation. “We have taken measures. The strike in Chattogram has been already called off,” he told the court.