The survey confirmed that violence is predominantly experienced by junior doctors, who, being on the frontline, are particularly vulnerable but have limited involvement in administration or policymaking.The situation worsens in some smaller hospitals with limited staff and no security.According to Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, the survey’s lead author, the study is unique not just because it is the largest of its kind in India, but also because it analyses over ten thousand specific observations and suggestions from doctors across 22 states.”Crime thrives when conditions support it, and the study highlights the inadequacy of various safety arrangements for doctors on night duty in all settings. Young women are the most affected, and the findings broadly apply to all women working night shifts. The details provided in the study will serve as a valuable reference for policymakers,” Dr. Jayadevan, Chairman of Research Cell, Kerala State IMA, told TNIE.”Night shifts increase doctors’ vulnerability to violence due to reduced staff, the cover of darkness, and the presence of individuals under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Factors such as the lack of dedicated and secure duty rooms, their distance from the workplace, and the need to walk a significant distance to access facilities further heighten their risk,” the study said.”Women doctors face greater risks in these situations,” the survey said, adding that they prefer ex-servicemen as security guards and abled-bodied young men as bouncers in high-risk areas such as casualty and ICU lobbies where skirmishes are common.
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