Kolkata’s JN Ray Hospital’s decision to deny medical treatment to Bangladeshi patients over alleged anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh is both alarming and deeply unethical. Doctors take an oath to serve the public, free from political influence, and denying medical care as a form of protest is a fundamental violation of the principles that guide healthcare professionals.
Healthcare’s core purpose is to save lives, regardless of nationality, religion, or political situation.
Turning away patients, who may have no role in the political events being protested, betrays the Hippocratic Oath, which demands that doctors provide care impartially.
Hospitals should remain sanctuaries, not venues for political retaliation.
Bangladeshis often seek medical care in Indian hospitals due to the high quality of services available. Denying them treatment sends a harmful message that politics can supersede humanity—a precedent that could erode trust in healthcare systems worldwide.
Hospitals should be the last place where political grievances manifest. JN Ray Hospital must reconsider this dangerous stance and reaffirm the universal principle that no one in need of medical care should ever be turned away.
Healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a privilege dependent on nationality or politics. By denying treatment, we undermine the very essence of humanity and compassion.