Doctors protest ‘harassment’ of sonologists and radiologists 

Bengaluru, Sept 1 (PTI) Doctors and members of the medicalfraternity here today took to the streets to protest allegedharassment and "injustice" faced by sonologists andradiologists under the PC and PNDT Act (Pre-Conception &Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex SelectionAct, 1994). The protest in support of the nationwide strike from Sept1 called by the IRIA (Indian Radiological and ImagingAssociation) was spearheaded by Medical Ultrasound society ofKarnataka (MUSK), a society with Ultrasonologist’s,Radiologist’s and Obstetricians practising ultrasound. MUSK Secretary Chitra Ganesh said "We are not against PC &PNDT act, but only against the diverse ways in which it isimplemented in different parts of the country. "Our objective is to draw the attention of the governmentand public on how sonologist’s are harassed in the name ofPC&PNDT law, the essence of which is to protect the girlchild," she said adding there were states where the provisionsunder the Act had been misused. Harish Rao, Secretary of Indian Society of ClinicalSonologists, said a minor clerical error could result inmachines being sealed, registration cancelled and cases filedin court against the radiologist and imprisonment. "Radiologists are required to fill up Form F for everypatient. This is a 8-page long document and even if there is asmall error while filling, the radiologists can be prosecutedand held behind bars for three years under the act, MUSKPresident Priti Venkatesh said. "MUSK has always been in the forefront in the protectionof girl child and against selective sex determination. We areready to join hands with the state government in the smoothimplementation of the ACT, provided they don’t harass us onminor issues like signatures in forms, wearing of apron andname badge which are in no way linked in bringing a change insex ratio," he said.    MUSK joined hands with IRIA, ISOCS (Indian Society ofClinical Sonologists ), BSOG (Bangalore Society of Obstetrics& Gynaecology) to take out the march from freedom park to thepolice commissionerÂ’s office. PTI RA VS RCJMAV