Indian-origin doctor couple sue UK govt on safety fears

London: An Indian-origin husband and wife doctor couple have launched a legal action against the UK government for the shortage of as well as “unclear” guidance issued on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) during the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Nishant Joshi and his pregnant wife, Dr Meenal Viz, are challenging the lawfulness of the PPE guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England and the government’s failures to source essential PPE domestically and from the European Union (EU).
They say they have been exposed to patients with Covid-19 and are concerned that current protective equipment guidance and availability is inadequate to provide them with appropriate protection from infection.
“We are incredibly concerned at the ever-growing numbers of healthcare workers who are becoming seriously unwell and dying due to Covid-19.”
“It is the government’s duty to protect its healthcare workers, and there is great anxiety amongst staff with regards to safety protocols that seem to change without rhyme or reason,” the couple said in a joint statement issued this week through the London-headquartered law firm Bindmans LLP.
“Every time a healthcare worker becomes hospitalized with COVID-19, it exacts an extraordinary toll on our friends, family and colleagues. To sedate and ventilate your own colleague takes a mental toll on the entire workforce,” they said. (PTI)