Healing turns hostile
In recent days, several alleged cases of medical negligence in hospitals have come to light, drawing strong public reactions. Viral videos circulating on social media platforms show confrontations between doctors and the public. Many doctors have pointed out that these incidents are symptomatic of deeper, systemic issues in the healthcare infrastructure, leading to inadequate treatment. This raises a crucial question: is it truly a failure of individuals—or a failure of the system itself?
For the development of any society, two foundational needs must be prioritized: education and healthcare. There can be no compromise on these. Without quality education, the population remains uninformed, and without accessible healthcare, people suffer or die due to avoidable conditions. Unfortunately, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir continues to struggle with deficiencies in both areas. Reports of negligence in hospitals across the region surface from time to time, often during moments when the public demands accountability. One may attribute this to historical political underrepresentation or systemic gaps in governance—both of which have contributed to the current unfortunate state of affairs, including incidents that reflect a strained doctor-patient relationship in government hospitals.
In a recent incident at an associate hospital in Srinagar, a young man tragically died on the premises. His grieving family alleged medical negligence, specifically the failure to provide oxygen in time. During the emotional chaos that followed, a family member reportedly slapped a resident doctor, triggering a protest by junior resident doctors. As a result, all hospital functions—including emergency services and operating theatres, were suspended. The matter drew attention from the authorities and an official enquiry was ordered.
What began as a confrontation quickly escalated into the disruption of emergency services, impacting countless patients. Public opinion soon split: some sympathized with the doctors, while others criticized the suspension of critical services, calling it ‘inhumane’. Meanwhile, the young man who died, whose loss sparked the controversy, could not be brought back. His death remains a sobering reminder that such disputes ultimately cost precious lives, raising questions about both medical professionalism and public conduct.
It is essential to understand that when services fail within an institution, the root cause often lies in systemic mismanagement, not just individual negligence. Lasting change demands a shift in focus from personal blame to institutional reform. Scuffles and confrontations, however emotionally charged, will not fix deep-rooted issues in the medical and healthcare sector. The public must demand accountability for negligence, professional lapses and poor service delivery from the right authorities, those empowered to reform and rebuild the system. Only then can hospitals be staffed with qualified, dedicated doctors, paramedics, and administrators who uphold professional standards.
Following the incident, a cardiologist from AIIMS Delhi released a video message, clearly stating that the fault lay with the system, not with any individual doctor. From a broader perspective, it is easy to blame doctors for suspending services, but one must also recognize that doctors function within the very system that is failing them. Can we truly call it a failure of the noble profession?
That said, the behaviour of some medical professionals after the incident was distressing. In one widely circulated video, a patient reportedly needing urgent care was denied entry while doctors protested. As attendants pleaded for help, doctors stood their ground, voicing concerns about their safety. This moment exposed a painful contradiction: caregivers caught between professional duty and personal fear. While their call for safety is valid, the resulting disruption caused suffering to many cant be justified. Doctors must acknowledge this and, where necessary, offer an apology, not because they are solely to blame, but because the public trust in their role must be preserved. Shielding systemic failures behind protest does not absolve one of professional responsibility.
To truly improve healthcare, civic awareness and stronger doctor-patient relationships are equally vital. Unfortunately, incidents like this often devolve into a ‘doctors versus public’ narrative. This oversimplification distracts from the real issues: infrastructural gaps, policy failures, and resource constraints. In places where every minute can mean the difference between life and death, public focus must remain on demanding systemic improvement, not assigning blame to individual doctors alone.
While holding individuals accountable when necessary, the larger call must be for systemic reform. If we continue to direct our anger only at parts of the system, more lives will be lost. It is time for a collective demand: for safety, dignity and accountability in healthcare, for all.
Ayaan Saroori is a freelance writer and columnist
