Clerical errors equated with sex determination, complain IRIA radiologists, call strike against harassment

August 31, 2016 | Published by : Avinash Nandakumar

NewDelhi,August31:Ultrasonography services throughout the country will be hit from Thursday onwards as Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) has threatened an indefinite countywide strike. Radiologists are protesting against provisions of the PC & PNDT Act calling them “draconian” that lead to harassment of the radiologists.

IRIA has reached out the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, with a set of demands. “We have demanded that clerical errors should not be equated with sex determination and criminal offence. Ultrasound machines should not be sealed and medical registration of radiologists should not be cancelled or suspended on minor clerical errors. Court cases against radiologists for minor clerical errors should be withdrawn,” said Dr O P Bansal, President, IRIA.

“The suspension of ultrasound services throughout the country will continue until all our demands are met, and if need be, all the radiologists of the country will suspend their all radiological services indefinitely,” he said. The association claimed that at regular intervals, many radiologists, who did not have even remote connection with sex- determination, have been victimised under the PC & PNDT Act for minor clerical errors.

They alleged that under the PC & PNDT Act, non uniform implementation have resulted in sealing of many ultrasound machines depriving radiologists of their livelihood and having to face criminal proceedings in court on minor clerical mistakes.

“It is becoming impossible for radiologists to continue practicing with the morbid fear of unfair prosecution under PC & PNDT Act. The healthcare in India is primarily dependent upon small and medium-sized private medical set-ups, since government healthcare facilities are grossly inadequate,” said Dr Bansal.

“Despite that, if the government officials continue to harass honest radiologists, then radiologists have no option but to stop practicing. Why should an honest radiologist face a jail term for no fault of his?,” asked Dr Bansal.

The association has claimed that radiologists are being continuously harassed by the Appropriate Authorities for minor clerical mistakes, which are being considered equal to sex determination. “It has been decided that if these harassments are not stopped, then the members of IRIA will be constrained to go on all India indefinite agitation from September 1, 2016,” said Dr Bansal.

“All the modalities will be shut down on September 1, 2016 throughout the country. Subsequently from Friday there would be indefinite stoppage of all ultrasonography throughout the country till solution of our problems and justice is served,” he added.

Tags: #clericalerrors, #IRIA, #radiologists, #Sex, #Strike