Obstructing medical services at hospitals

As you mentioned in your editorial titled “Obstructing medical services at hospitals” on March 11, the recent strike by the doctors was a horrible incident that increased the sufferings of already distressed patients who have no choice but to go to public hospitals for treatment. 

Whatever might have occurred in the incident, I strongly feel that the concerned interns, being educated and privileged members of the society, should have been more sympathetic and caring towards the patient's attendants. Patients' relatives in a hospital tend to be under great stress and anxiety; irrational behaviour on their part, while not necessarily correct, can be sympathised with. It is the duty of doctors and other hospital staff to deal with both patients and their attendants with patience, respect and compassion.

Professor M. Zahidul Haque

Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University