Attacks on hospitals inhumane, say doctors

New Delhi: The medical community here has termed as an "inhumane act" the targeting of hospitals in Saturday's serial blasts in Ahmedabad, and has condemned the attacks.

"The attack on a hospital is the most inhumane thing possible on this earth. Hospitals are like temples and are sacrosanct places where the patients are treated, setting aside their caste, creed, social and financial status," said Y.K. Gupta, chief spokesperson of country's premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

In a well-planned act to maximise the casualty rates, three hospitals were among the targets of the 16 synchronised blasts in Ahmedabad which left over 45 dead, including two doctors.

No fortress

On the point of beefing up security at the hospitals, Gupta said: "A hospital cannot be turned into a fortress as patients from all walks of life visit it for treatment. But we can manage the crowds and strengthen our security measures to avert such incidents."

"Blast at any place is unethical and hospitals are not an exception to this inhumane act. This incident will create a fear psychosis among the medical fraternity and doctors will refrain from rendering services at the affected places," Sanjiv Malik, president of the Medical Association, said.

He added that security needs to be increased so that the fear factor in the minds of doctors across the country is eased out.

Two bombs targeted the trauma centre at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, killing several people.

Even among the public there was widespread condemnation of the dastardly attack.