Srinagar, Sep 01 (KNO): The Jammu & Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association has urged the general public and social-media users to exercise restraint and responsibility while sharing or commenting on allegations concerning hospitals and medical professionals.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the appeal comes after the Association submitted a complaint through its president Mir Faizan to the Cyber Police Station, Kashmir Zone, regarding the circulation of what it described as unverified, misleading and potentially defamatory social-media content concerning recent incidents involving Medlyn Hospital and Mid City Hospital, Anantnag.
The Association clarified that it fully respects the right of patients and their families to raise genuine grievances and seek an investigation into suspected medical negligence. It also expressed confidence in competent medical, statutory, police and judicial authorities to independently examine such allegations.
However, the Association cautioned against a growing tendency on social media to declare hospitals or doctors guilty of negligence before any competent authority has established such a finding. It said that such posts can prejudice ongoing investigations and cause serious and unjustified reputational damage to healthcare institutions and professionals. Every medical complication is not necessarily negligence.
The Association appealed to the public to understand that medical treatment can involve complications, unforeseen outcomes and risks even when appropriate medical protocols and standards of care are followed. A poor or unexpected outcome, by itself, should not automatically be equated with medical negligence. At the time of surgery, the doctor and hospital owners are more concerned and worried about patients than the attendants and negligent behaviour is the last thing they can afford for their patient.
“No doctor or hospital owner wants patient to die rather strives for his/her speedy recovery. We understand that the news against a doctor or a hospital sells more like a hot cake and for a few more likes and comments, social media influencers and pseudo journalists lampoon the image of a doctor and the hospital as there's no accountability. So to put things right, we have filed this complaint followed by an FIR and defamation suit against individuals involved in spreading fake news of negligence,” the association said.
It urged patients and their families who have genuine concerns to approach the appropriate authorities and seek an impartial medical assessment rather than relying on social-media narratives or unverified claims.
“A medical complication should not, without proper examination and evidence, be presumed to be negligence. Let the facts be established by competent authorities rather than by social media,” the Association said.
The Association has also requested the Cyber Police to examine the identified social-media content, preserve relevant electronic evidence and identify those responsible for creating and circulating the material.
At the same time, the Association stressed that its complaint is not intended to obstruct genuine investigations, legitimate journalism or the right of patients to raise legitimate concerns. Its primary objection is to the practice of portraying allegations as established facts without awaiting findings from competent authorities—(KNO)