The Delhi High Court today questioned the need for doctors to be on duty for 24 hours or more and said that it should be changed. Referring to the shortage of medical professionals, a bench of Acting Chief Justice and Justice observed that in a country "blessed with human resource" the relatives of hospitalised patients need to lug around medicines and reports from one department to another in a hospital. "Why do we have 24 hour or 30 hour long shifts for doctors? It should be changed," the court said.
The bench made the observations during a brief hearing of a PIL initiated by it after perusing a news report on the rise in violent attacks on doctors by attendants or relatives of patients. The court from time to time, through the plea, has been issuing directions for ensuring safety and security of doctors and other medical staff. As part of its directions, the court had asked the…
