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RG Kar Medical Hospital Rape: The rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at Kolkata Medical College has sparked a massive row, questioning the security and safety of medical professionals in the West Bengal. On Wednesday, a delegation from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), led by National President RV Asokan, visited RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to meet with the parents of Kolkata rape-murder incident. The incident that took place on August 9, has sparked widespread outrage and led to protests within and beyond the medical community.

The IMA has called on the West Bengal government to implement supportive measures for the grieving family. With the investigation now transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Asokan emphasized the need for a fair and transparent inquiry.

"Our demand from the WB Govt is that there have to be supportive measures for the family. Now the investigation has been given to the CBI. They have to be fair and transparent and need to find the other culprits," he added.

RG Kar Medical College Incident Leads To Massive Agitation

The protests were held in several cities, like Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, on Wednesday. According to news agency ANI, the protesters were holding placards saying, "Justice needs to be served", "No duty without security" and "Justice delayed is Justice denied".

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The incident has brought attention to the violence and harassment that doctors are exposed to in the overburdened healthcare system in the country. As the protests grow more intense, the doctors are demanding that a central law be put in place for the protection of medical workers. Several protesting doctors have demanded the implementation of the Central Protection Act for Doctors. This law will ensure ample security and safety for healthcare workers at hospitals.

A Look At Central Protection Act for Doctors

The Centre Protection Act for Doctors, or the  ‘Prevention of Violence Against Healthcare Professionals and Clinical Establishments Bill, 2022’ was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2022. It is aimed at defining acts of violence against doctors and has called for establishing punishment for such acts.  According to the bill, it has provisions that include defining the acts of violence, prohibiting violence, establishing congnizability and punishment, mandatory reporting of such acts, public sensitisation, and a grievance redressal mechanism. The proposed bill also mandates the reporting of incidents and includes provisions for public sensitisation and grievance redressal. 

According to Times Of India, the act calls for mechanisms to address grievances and reduce long waiting periods in healthcare settings. It also suggests incorporating cognitive, psychomotor, and empathic skills into medical education to help reduce conflicts between healthcare providers and patients. The offences under this act are cognizable and non-bailable, which means that they can be arrested without a warrant and are subjected to trial by a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class.

ALSO READ: Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: IMA Team Meets Victim's Family As CBI Takes Over Probe, Doctors' Protests Continue

The Current Status Of Central Protection Act

The Central Protection Act, despite the Prevention of Violence Against Healthcare Professionals and Clinical Establishments Bill, 2022, has not yet been enacted. According to TOI, quoting media reports, the Union Health Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, informed the Rajya Sabha that while a draft of the Healthcare Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019 was prepared and circulated for consultations, it was decided not to pursue separate legislation.

Rahul Gandhi Hits Out At Bengal Govt Over Doctor's Rape-Murder

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, took aim at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the sexual assault and said that the attempt is made to save the accused instead of providing justice to the victim, raising serious questions for the hospital and the local administration. Calling for serious punishment for the accused in the death and rape of the doctor at Kolkata's hospital, Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, mentioned that the entire country is shocked by the gruesome incident of the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata.

"The way the layers of the inhuman act against her are being revealed, there is an atmosphere of insecurity among the doctors' community and women. The attempt to save the accused instead of providing justice to the victim raises serious questions on the hospital and the local administration," he said.

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