“I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to service of humanity.” This is the first sentence a doctor utters while taking an oath when s/he enters into the medical profession. They are considered as God by people despite knowing the fact that they are human, as the profession gives ‘hope’ to live to a patient and his family. But due to the increasing number of medico legal issues in the country, there is a serious concern about the doctor-patient relationship. To raise awareness among the patients about their rights and responsibilities as patients and to build up a strong, safe and healthy doctor patient relationship, the Dr. Anamika Ray Memorial Trust has been decided to observe June 25 as Patients’ Rights Day under the “STOP MEDICAL TERRORISM” movement for better and transparent healthcare services in India. The Trust feels happy that a few civil society organisations such as Ahom Sena, Priyobandhu, CLPF etc. have come forward to support the cause and make it a vibrant movement.
The Trust, in consultation with a panel of medical professionals of national and international repute, drafted the Patients’ Rights in 10 points and the responsibilities in another 10 points. The Rights and Responsibilities of the patients will be available at http://smt.armt.in on June 23rd in many languages. It's a two page document. The Trust requests everyone to support the cause by downloading the document in their preferred language, printing it out and distributing it among patients in any hospital in India. The Trust believes that this initiative may save hundreds of lives and will be a great contribution for better and more transparent healthcare services in India. To let others know, the Trust also requests supporters to post a photo of the distribution of the document with #patientsrightsday in any social media.
The rights mentioned in the draft include the right to get the best possible medical care without discrimination; right to prompt, life-saving treatment; right to take part in all decisions relating to one’s health care; right to privacy; right to know the identity and role of people involved in treatment; right to dignity and to have caregivers’ respect; right to appropriate assessment and management of pain; right to receive visitors; right to refuse treatment and to leave the medical centre; and right to get necessary information related to the line of treatment as well as all health records.
The responsibilities mentioned in the draft include the responsibility to refrain from misbehaving and misconduct towards any medical service providers; responsibility to refrain from physical assault of any healthcare personnel or damage to property; responsibility to be truthful; responsibility to provide complete and accurate medical history; responsibility to cooperate with the agreed line of treatment; responsibility to meet the financial obligations; responsibility to refrain from initiating, participating or supporting fraudulent and illegal health care practices; responsibility to report illegal or unethical behaviour; responsibility to get a post-mortem done and responsibility to discuss end of life decisions.
The Trust reiterates that the purpose of the movement is to bring about improvement in health care services in the country through legislation aimed at systemic changes. It is a distant and difficult goal but the movement is determined to succeed so that victims of Medical Terrorism can find justice, so that doctors who wish to and are trying to make a difference through their actions can do so with greater ease, and so that there is greater and justified trust in the relationship between medical professionals and patients. The Trust urges the public not to be swayed by divertive and misleading arguments and to support the movement.
12 Jan 2012 - 8:15pm | Anup Arandhara
The 27th mid-term conference of Sivasagar district academic council will be held on 18-19 January, 2012, at Ghilaguri High School, Khaloighugura. On first day the flag will be hoisted by Prabin...
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Members of the media fraternity, students' bodies and social activists took part in a two hour sit-in organized by the Kokrajhar Press Club in front of Pragati Bhawan in Kokrajhar Thursday to protest...
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Assam director general of police Jayanta Narayan Chauidhury on Tuesday has expressed grave concern over the stepped up activities of the Maoist cadres in at least seven districts.
Talking to...
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The final match between Janasadharan-Assam Talks and DY365 in the 3rd TG Baruah Memorial Media T20 Cricket Tournament 2016 has kicked off today morning. DY365 captain Dhiraj Hazarika won the toss and...
In a significant development, legal notices have been served recently to the Chief Secretaries of 15 Indian states and union territories, demanding the immediate cessation of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign. Advocate Mitali Sett issued the notices on behalf of senior gynecologists and members of the Awaken India Movement, citing concerns about informed consent, potential health risks, and non-compliance with Supreme Court mandates.
Key Details of the Legal Notices
The notices allege violations of the Supreme Court's directives in the landmark case Jacob Puliyel vs. Union of India, which emphasizes the "golden rule" of informed consent. The directives mandate...
The people of Guwahati, along with the Tai Ahom people, will come together to celebrate the historic recognition of Charaideo Moidams-the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The event will honor the key individuals whose tireless efforts contributed to achieving this prestigious milestone.
The event will be held at Karmashree Hiteswar Saikia College Guwahati, with Dr. K.C. Noriwal, a renowned historian, and other eminent personalities gracing the occasion as chief guests.
As part of the program, a detailed presentation showcasing the significance of the Moidams will be screened.
Renowned filmmaker and screenwriter Bhaskarjyoti Das passed away on Thursday after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 51 years old at the time of his demise.
Bhaskarjyoti Das was celebrated for his exceptional work in films like Handuk, Sonar Boron Pakhi, and Bakul Phulor Dore, among others. His screenwriting earned him accolades at both state and national levels. He also served as the co-producer and assistant director for the acclaimed film Antardhan.
His documentary An Unknown Summer was screened at this year’s Kerala International Documentary and Short Film Festival and gained global recognition. The film was also nominated in the Short Documentary category for the prestigious...
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has established an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to assess whether the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and its affiliates should continue to be classified as an unlawful association.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Michael Zothankhuma of the Gauhati High Court, was formed under Section 5(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. This follows the MHA's recent decision to extend ULFA's ban for five more years, citing the group's ongoing efforts to secede Assam from India, links with other insurgent groups, and involvement in extortion and violence.
The ULFA, banned since 1990, has a long history of criminal activities,...
In our modern world, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases is a harsh reminder of the impact of lifestyle and diet choices on our well-being. As Lalit Kapoor insightfully puts it, “The human body is a self-healing organism.” However, by relying heavily on medications to suppress symptoms, we disrupt this natural process and set off a vicious cycle of dependency and further health complications.
The key to vibrant health lies in embracing five fundamental pillars, as seen in communities of the world’s Blue Zones—regions where people live disease-free into their 90s and beyond. Let’s explore these pillars and how they can transform our lives.
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With remote work on the rise, traditional office arrangements have been completely turned upside down. No one has embraced this transformation quite like remote professionals in India. From freelancers to full-time remote employees, Indian professionals are leveraging a range of creative communication hacks to collaborate with global teams, navigate time zone differences, and remain productive. Whether you’re a remote worker yourself or just interested in how India’s professionals are coping with this new status quo, there’s plenty to be learned from their approach.
Remote work relies on one thing above all else: clear, constant communication. This often means leveraging technology,...
Guwahati, December 21: A panel discussion on the "Violation of Human Rights Laws Against Hindus and Other Religious Minorities" was held today at the Bishnu Nirmal Trust Auditorium, Latasil, Guwahati. The event was organized under the banner of Adhivakta Parishad Assam Prant.
The discussion featured notable speakers, including Justice Ajit Borthakur, former Judge of the Guwahati High Court and current member of the Assam Human Rights Commission. Justice Borthakur raised concerns about the status of rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Bangladesh and questioned their protection for all citizens.
Former IPS and DGP (OSD) M Mohan Raj provided historical context, comparing...
Guwahati, December 2024: The Assam Chamber of Commerce is set to host a 5 KM Fun Run on January 5, 2025, at 6:00 AM, starting from the Gauhati Town Club, Judges Field, Panbazar. The event, spearheaded by Rupam Goswami, Chairman of the Assam Chamber of Commerce, aims to raise awareness about drug abuse and promote a healthy lifestyle.
The fun run, themed “Run for a Cause,” invites participants from all walks of life to join hands in the fight against drugs. Registration for the event is priced at ₹250, with participants required to share a screenshot of their payment via WhatsApp to the organizers. The event promises exciting cash prizes for both male and female runners: ₹5,000 for first...
A protest by Congress party workers in Dispur escalated into chaos today as demonstrators attempted to gherao the Janata Bhawan in Guwahati, leading to multiple detentions including top party leadership. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Borah and senior leader Ripun Bora were among those detained as fully-equipped police forces intervened to control the situation.
The demonstration, sparked by the death of Congress worker Mridul Islam in Wednesday's tear gas shelling, saw protesters defying police barricades and staging sit-ins on the road. Some demonstrators attempted to breach police lines in front of the Janata Bhawan, intensifying the confrontation.
In a related...
Guwahati, December 18, 2024: The School of Social Work at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Off-Campus, held its first-ever Inhmukhawm: Field Work Organisations’ Meet on Wednesday. The event, themed "Buen Vivr: Co-building a Sustainable and Just Future," brought together nearly 100 participants, including grassroots organizations, NGOs, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) representatives. Aligning with the International World Social Work Day 2024, the gathering focused on social work, sustainability, and justice, providing a platform for dialogue, learning, and collaborative innovation to enhance student fieldwork initiatives.
The event commenced with a warm...
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