Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Doctors and strike

The article "Can doctors be allowed to strike work?" (Open Page, July 16) concludes by saying that as long as society considers strikes a legal bargaining tool to achieve ends, doctors too will take recourse to it. Can we extend the same logic to a commander deserting the battlefield — that he has the right to give expression to his discontent? Doctors are considered next only to god. They should not strike work. There are many other democratic means to make known their displeasure.

Dharmaraj Joseph,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

* * *

Being a doctor is much more than holding a job. No other profession, except perhaps priesthood, enjoys the faith of the people to the same extent. Without this faith, doctors will not be in the exalted position they find themselves in. I wonder why the AIIMS doctors should not come within the ambit of the Essential Services Act.

Raghuram Ekambaram,
New Delhi

* * *

The "survival strategies" and "emotional distancing" referred to in the article, though true, are short-term and myopic in nature. A doctor's job entails a lot of responsibility. It is synonymous with the hope and faith of patients and their dear ones. Doctors can't neglect their duties for selfish wants. But as far as the recent agitation of doctors is concerned, there is another perspective to it.

Systemic failures kill more people than a thousand doctors striking for a few days.

Anshul Avijit,
New Delhi

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