The executive and legislative authorities have moved quickly towards envisaging a legislation to protect doctors after one of them suffered an assault at the hands of a patient. A number of MPs are said to have met with the Parliament''s constitutional expert to draft a law that will stiffly penalize anyone involved in an assault against a medical practitioner while on duty by imposing heavier fines on them. The lawmakers reportedly plan to urgently issue a legislation to this effect by the beginning of the next legislative term.
This comes at a time when certain ministers are known to have informed some parliamentary health committee members that the Cabinet intends to raise the issue during its regular session on Monday. A taskforce will be formed to draft a law that will criminalize any form of assault against doctors while performing their duties. The Cabinet is due to issue a statement condemning the assault on the Mubarak AlـKabeer Hospital doctor and it''s expected to affirm zero tolerance for any such assaults by toughening penalties against such acts in order to ensure the safety and well being of doctors.
Meanwhile the Kuwait Medical Association condemned the attack and urged officials at the ministries of Health and the Interior to deal with the matter seriously to protect members of the medical profession The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the association Dr. Ali AlـMukaimi said in a press statement that the association appeals to the community that dissatisfaction should not be expressed through violence or abuse of a public servant, especially since the humanitarian services provided by doctors deal with life and human suffering. He also called upon members of the Parliament to quickly pass the immunity law for medical doctors to protect them from any attacks so they can work in a normal and safe environment.

Alwatan Daily