Doctor orders: Contempt plea moved against striking doctors

Petitioner says despite SC’s orders, Young Doctors Association in Lahore was still continuing its protests and strikes

LAHORE:

A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking contempt of court proceedings against the Young Doctors Association for allegedly protesting in violation of the orders of the Supreme Court.

Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique filed this application with his already pending petition for a judicial inquiry into the deaths of dozens of patients at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology because of tainted drugs.

The petitioners submitted that the Supreme Court, during suo motu proceedings regarding the PIC deaths, had passed this order: “The doctors represent a noble profession.

The ailing patients need their care and attention. It is not in consonance with the spirit of their noble calling to strike and leave patients unattended, as in the event of their strike/boycott, the patients under treatment in the Punjab Institute Cardiology and any other hospital are likely to suffer, and their fundamental right to life may be seriously compromised. It is directed that no doctor shall go on strike and shall attend to their respective duties.”

He said despite the SC’s orders, the Young Doctors Association in Lahore was still continuing its protests and strikes, leaving patients unattended.

He said contempt proceedings should be initiated against the doctors participating in the strike.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2012.