Honnavar: Under the banner of the Indian Medical Association, Honnavar Taluk, and the Indian Dental Association, doctors of private hospitals in Honnavar taluk organized a black belt protest on Monday. This protest involved suspending outpatient treatments to voice their opposition to the recent incident involving the unfortunate death of a patient named Mohammad Asif. Asif passed away on August 23rd, during the late hours of the night, while being transferred to Manipal for further treatment after receiving medical care at Sridevi Hospital in Honnavar. After the incident, people staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to Bhatkal Tahsildar, addressed to the Chief Minister, Governor, and the Home Minister.

The memorandum of the Indian Medical Association, which was submitted to Honnavar Tahsildar, clarified that there was no medical negligence leading to Asif's demise. They expressed their willingness to fully cooperate with any investigations. Furthermore, the doctors emphasized the importance of creating a fearless environment that enables them to carry out their duties without undue fear or pressure, highlighting that the public should support this aspect.

Referring to the Karnataka Government Order of 2009, the doctors conveyed their strong opposition to any attempts aimed at undermining their confidence. They pointed out that there are legal consequences, including a potential three-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 50,000, for those found guilty of assaulting medical staff on duty or damaging hospital property. Despite these legal protections, instances of verbal abuse and mistreatment of doctors persist.

Dr. Vishal, President of the Indian Medical Association, Honnavar taluk, addressed the media and provided details about the situation. He mentioned that Asif underwent surgery on August 20th, and his unfortunate passing occurred on August 23rd. He clarified that complications arising three days after surgery are challenging to address through medical intervention. Stressing that Asif's death was accidental and not due to any negligence on the part of the medical team, Dr. Vishal called for a judicial investigation if there are suspicions of negligence.

Dr. Chandrasekhar Shetty, Chief Doctor of Sridevi Hospital, explained that Mohammad Asif had received treatment at their hospital. His surgery was performed by Dr. Kishan, a Euro surgeon from Father Muller Hospital Mangalore, using Ureteroscopy (URS). Following the surgery, Asif was discharged on August 23rd. However, he fell ill again shortly after leaving the hospital, leading to his readmission to the ICU. He underwent further treatment before being transferred to Manipal for additional care. Unfortunately, he was pronounced deceased upon examination at Manipal.

Dr. Chandrasekhar Shetty mentioned that all relevant documents have been provided to the police for their investigation. He strongly warned against any attempts to tarnish the reputation of their hospital and stressed that such actions will not be tolerated. He also expressed concern that if these negative developments persist, it could result in limited access to medical care in smaller towns for minor health issues, potentially necessitating trips to larger hospitals for even minor ailments.

Various medical professionals, including Dr. Vinayak Raikar, Secretary of the Medical Association, Dr. Ranganath Pujari, and Mamata, along with private hospital doctors from the taluk were present.