Bengaluru: Intentionally offending healthcare professionals, including nurses, paramedical staff, registered practitioners, and medical students will be illegal if the bill introduced by the government of Karnataka is passed by Karnataka Assembly. The proposed legislation covers insults conveyed directly through social media or unlawful audio and video recording while the staff member is performing their job.
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As per the proposed legislation “Karnataka Medical Registration and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill 2024”, intentional insult is defined as “use of words, figures or gestures with an intention to insult, humiliate, disgrace, annoy or abuse a medicare service personnel either directly addressed to him or through social media or through unauthorised audio and video recording and photographing in connection with his professional duty”. Additionally, according to the bill, anyone found guilty faces up to three months in prison or a fine of up to ten thousand rupees. ”Any offence committed under sections 3, 3A and 4A shall be cognizable and non-bailable,” states the bill. Stricter legislation has been demanded by medical professionals nationwide to stop violence and insults directed towards them, particularly from patients or their families.