Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Ordinance to protect patients' rights too

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The draft Kerala Health Services Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Ordinance, approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday, seeks to protect the rights of patients, besides prohibiting violence against doctors and hospital staff.

An official release here said the rights of patients to receive complete information about medical treatment provided by health care institutions would be ensured in the ordinance. There would also be a provision regarding redress of grievances about lapses in medical treatment.

The ordinance proposes that violence against health care personnel will be punishable with imprisonment up to three years with fine up to Rs.50,000. In addition, offenders will be liable to pay the health care service institution compensation twice the amount of purchase price of medical equipment damaged and loss caused to the property as determined by the court trying the offence.

The ordinance will cover health care institutions under the Central and the State governments and local self-governments and private hospitals. Registered medical practitioners working in health care institutions (including those having provisional registration), registered nurses, medical students, nursing students and paramedical workers employed and working in medical service institutions will come under the protective umbrella of the law.

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