Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 31: AIIMS Jammu hosted a high-level panel discussion on “Violence against Healthcare Professionals”, bringing together experts from the judiciary, police, medical academia, nursing community and media to deliberate on measures to ensure safety and confidence of doctors and caregivers.
The event, held at the AIIMS Convention Centre, highlighted the magnitude of the problem and suggested pathways for legal, institutional and community-level reforms.
The session was chaired by Justice B L Bhat (retired), Justice J&K & Ladakh High Court and Member, Institute Ethics Committee, AIIMS Jammu. The distinguished panelists included Prof (Dr) Ashutosh Gupta, Principal & Dean, GMC Jammu; Prof (Dr) Dinesh Rao, HoD, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AIIMS Jammu; Rajinder Kumar Gupta, Deputy Director, SKPA Udhampur; Dr Shruti Sharma, Additional Professor of Anesthesiology, AIIMS Jammu; Dr Rimple Sharma, Principal, College of Nursing, AIIMS Jammu; Dr Ayush Srivastava, Assistant Professor, Trauma & Emergency Medicine, AIIMS Jammu; Faheem Tak, Channel Head, News Now Jammu; and Dr Kshitija Singh, Assistant Professor, Hospital Administration, AIIMS New Delhi, who moderated the session.
Welcoming the gathering, Prof (Dr) Shakti Kumar Gupta, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Jammu, said violence against healthcare professionals is “not merely an attack on individuals, but an assault on the spirit of care and compassion that defines medical practice.”
Justice B L Bhat called for a comprehensive central law, improved doctor-patient communication, and installation of CCTV cameras in hospitals. Dr Ashutosh Gupta stressed on counselling families and preventive mechanisms. Rajinder Kumar Gupta pointed out that cases often collapse as doctors withdraw complaints midway.
Dr Dinesh Rao emphasized medical ethics and institutional responsibility while Dr Shruti Sharma highlighted the psychological toll on young doctors. Dr Rimple Sharma underscored training in soft skills and Dr Ayush Srivastava flagged high-risk trauma settings.
Concluding the session, Dr Kshitija Singh presented the panel’s recommendations, calling for joint institutional and societal efforts to rebuild trust and respect in medical care. The event saw participation from faculty, residents, nursing officers, students, media, and civil society.
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