LAHORE – A peaceful walk by citizens from all walks of life was held at Liberty Chowk on Sunday, where the group protested against one of the regulations of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Association (PMDA). The regulation deals with no doctor giving treatment to any patient with a gunshot, until there is a police report.
Sara Khan, who took a part in leading the protest, called together friends family and online acquaintances, after forming a group on facebook alerting people about this issue. “It is not easy to get a police report, and every gunshot victim cannot produce one immediately,” she told Pakistan Today.
“This is a ridiculous rule and many have expired in hospital only because of this.” Khan said that a police report could be produced at a later stage, but there was no reason as to why the doctor should not even give the patient first aid and save his or her life without one.
“A 15 year old student from Aitchison College died last week, thanks to this regulation, because the doctor said he would not even touch the patient till a report was brought,” she highlighted.
“Meanwhile the police was unwilling to file the report.” Doctors also took part in this walk, where the social group held posters to attract public attention. “We hope the media pays attention to this rule where dozens die every year for a trivial reason,” she said. “If we as educated families living in a so called democracy do not stand up against this, who will?”
It is not easy to get a police report, and every gunshot victim cannot produce one immediately. This is a ridiculous rule and many have expired in hospital only because of this. If we as educated families living in a so called daemocracy do not stand up against this, who will?
