Doctors on strike

A STRIKE called by the Young Doctors' Association affected the working of several public hospitals across Punjab on Tuesday, resulting in traffic gridlock and massive inconvenience to patients in cities including Rawalpindi and Lahore. The striking doctors want an increase in salaries as well as the vacating of a hostel occupied by the National Accountability Bureau in Rawalpindi. The protesting doctors tried to keep their senior colleagues from attending to patients — in some instances by force. Offices were sealed by the junior medics while senior practitioners were pulled out of their rooms while examining patients. Countless patients — some in critical condition — had to be turned away. In certain cases, the protesters did not let ambulances cross the picket line. Reports indicate some doctors also misbehaved with patients and their attendants. Two groups of doctors even came to blows in Lahore over the closure of a hospital's main gate. Though their grievances may be genuine, the method of protest adopted by the doctors leaves a bad taste in the mouth, especially considering the responsibilities of their profession. It is a sad reflection on society when those who have taken oath to heal the sick end up increasing their suffering. Perhaps the striking doctors have forgotten that they are members "of society, with special obligations to all fellow human beings…", as contained in the Hippocratic Oath. Yet it has become the norm in Pakistan for doctors, lawyers and other 'educated' professions to employ methods of protest that are not in conformity with the principles of peaceful civil disobedience. According to reports, the situation may worsen if the doctors extend their protest in case their demands are not met. The striking doctors should realise that they need to pursue their demands in a non-violent manner, especially keeping in mind the welfare of suffering patients.