TimesView This initiative was long due. Hope the implementation on the ground lives up to the promises. KOLKATA: A Kolkata Police video — uploaded on Facebook — on why doctors should be treated with respect has cooked up a storm on social media. While several hailed the initiative, a significant section shared their personal experiences with doctors and hospitals and questioned cops on the redress system in cases of medical negligence. The arguments and counter-arguments — including replies from doctors — have so far seen 448 comments. The video — showing a doctor returning to duty a day after being assaulted — has been watched by 6,300 viewers and shared 2,600 times.Lalbazar sources said the 1.14-minute video was aimed at making the message clear: manhandling of doctors will not be tolerated. It is a continuation of the confidence-building exercise. Earlier, OCs and senior officers had met doctors on the eve of Doctors’ Day to assure them of support. Next, the police came up with posters at hospitals, telling the patients and their kin that manhandling doctors was a crime. “We wanted to reach out to a larger audience and the social media is the best way to do it,” said an IPS officer at Lalbazar.Social media users, however, were quick to put out posers for the men in uniform. Some even cited the recent alleged case of medical negligence at a south Kolkata hospital. “The message is correct, but not for all doctors. Even more than doctors, their institutions are the culprits. Instead of this video message, police should go and catch the actual culprits,” wrote Satyajit Roy, now settled in Brussels.In another post, he wrote: “Dear #chiefminister Requesting you to investigate the latest incident. If really they are at fault, they should get punished so that they cannot play with any more precious life in future.”Uttam Kumar Dey , another user, wanted police to clear their role under the Prevention of Violence and Property Act for Healthcare Medical Personnel and Medical Services Act, 2009. Similarly, he asked which agency to contact if there’s a complaint against the doctor and the hospital.The voices of dissent though were soon outnumber by those supporting the cops. “Thank you Kolkata Police. These are dark times for doctors. Your support means a lot to us. Hoping for your speedy action in future cases of unruliness against doctors,” wrote Arkaketan Chatterjee, a student of Calcutta Medical College, which had witnessed slogans against police during the recent hunger strike “'It is a praiseworthy initiative by Kolkata Police. Both doctors and patients should come forward to re-establish the relationship. Patients should be respectful towards doctors and doctors should be dutiful. If anything wrong happens, inform the administration which is active now. In case of assaults by mob, culprits must be brought to justice,” wrote Rajesh Shil, a state government employee.

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