Indian Medical Association, Andhra Pradesh chapter, has appealed to the people to refrain from blaming doctors when unforeseen situations arise during the treatment of patients.

IMA, AP chapter president C. Srinivasa Raju along with other members of the chapter here on Saturday paid tributes to Archana Sharma, who ended her life following alleged harassment by a local leader in Rajasthan following the death of a woman, who died during childbirth.

Dr. Raju said that doctors always strive to save the lives of their patients and want the latter to regain health, but in some unfortunate cases patients die due to various causes. It was unjust to wholly blame doctors for the death of patients and make them scapegoats, he said and added that taking advantage of such situations anti-social elements were resorting to physical attacks on doctors and hospitals.

Police should investigate before filing FIRs against doctors and the media should verify the facts before taking sides, he said.

He said laws should be made stringent to punish those who attacked doctors and called upon the medical fraternity to approach IMA in such situations.

IMA, AP general secretary G. Nanda Kishore, IMA Women doctors wing president Durga Rani and others were present.