The annual meeting of the Hospitals and Nursing Homes Forum of the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) that was held here on March 16, 2003 has called for the creation of more awareness among the medical practitioners on the need to give proper attention to trauma cases. In a bid to arrest the increasing instances of such neglect cases, the association organized a lecture on the "the role of nursing homes in handling acute emergencies including trauma".

Speaking on the occasion, Dr S K Khattri, registrar, Delhi Medical Council pointed out that the code of ethics of both the DMC and the Medical Council of India (MCI) has given clear instructions to the doctor to ensure that no negligence takes place with regard to emergency care. Quoting DMC code, he said, "one can choose whom to treat but in emergency situation, he is expected to respond with alacrity to the calls of the sick and injured." The MCI guidelines also say that the physician is "free to choose whom he will serve, but has to respond to any request for his assistance in an emergency."

Dr Khattri exhorted the nursing homes on the expectations the public has on a medical professional. "If he finds that he cannot save the life, he should do whatever he can and also ensure that the patient is reaching the expert at the earliest," he said.

Interestingly, most of the doctors who shy away from emergency treatment do so as they are reluctant to be part of the case proceedings, which is likely to follow. Dr Khattri pointed out that there are Supreme Court which says that a medical professional should not be harassed for the purpose of interrogation, should not be dragged during investigations at the police station and should be called by law of court only when evidence is necessary. The court also ensures that the practitioners are not made to wait and waste time unnecessarily.

Apprehensions of turning into a witness, police interrogation, long unnecessary cross-examination are some of the common problems highlighted by the medical practitioners.

Dr Khattri wanted the doctors to know that there is no legal impediment when he is called upon or requested to attend an injured person needing his medical assistance immediately. "There is no doubt that an effort to save a person should be of top priority not only of the medical professional, but even of the police, or any other citizen who happens to be connected with the matter or who happens to notice such an incident or a situation," he said.

Practice of certain medical institutions to refuse even primary medical aid to the patient and referring them to other hospital simply because they are medico legal cases is not desirable. However after providing the primary medical aid to the patient, patient can be referred to the hospital if the expertise facilities required are not available in that institution, he suggested.