LHC irked by doctors’ ‘irrelevant petition’

Verdict points out developed countries also failed to provide protective equipment

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the departmental authority to decide and take necessary action against some doctors for violating the norms of their service and brining bad name to the institution by approaching the court for provision of necessary medical equipment and safety kits at hospitals.

In a six-page verdict, LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan ordered, “it is observed that if the departmental authority considers that the conduct of the petitioners is against the norms of civil service, they have violated the relevant law or by moving such writ petition they have tried to bring a bad name to the institution, the authority will be at liberty to proceed against them.”

“The petition on the face of it appears to be a mala fide move and an attempt to get easy social media projection for no solid and sound basis thereof. Consequently, the same is dismissed with costs,” the order read.

The judge said the doctors and paramedical staff were on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus. “There is no doubt the aforementioned served the nation putting their lives at risk. No doubt this is a noble profession which means to serve humanity, doctors rendered their duties day and night and served those whom their beloved ones had denied accepting.”

The court observed that the doctors should give statements carefully regarding the protective equipment. The whole world is fighting coronavirus and the developed countries also failed in providing protective equipment to their doctors, the order stated.

“Our government is also fighting against this virus with limited resources so it will be unjust to issue any order when the government is making its all-out efforts against this virus,” the order further added.

The judge also observed that the petitioner doctors gave a false statement before the court about their duties in the coronavirus patients ward. The law officer in a statement submitted before the court revealed the petitioner doctors were not rendering duty in that ward.

And the government in its reply claimed all equipment is available in store for those doctors and paramedics who are fighting against coronavirus, it said.

Some doctors in their petition had claimed that the doctors and paramedical staff were facing gigantic problems owing to the non-provision of medical equipment and kits to avoid the virus. It has become difficult for the doctors to perform their duties under such circumstances when there was nothing for their protection as several doctors have been tested positive for coronavirus.

Despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned, nothing was handed over to the doctors, they complained.

They had requested the court to pass directives to the government to provide them the necessary equipment and medical kits so that they could protect themselves from coronavirus while performing their duty.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2020.