AMID concerns raised by Fr Frazer Mascarenhas that late Fr Stan Swamy was vaccinated at JJ hospital when he had all the symptoms of Covid and a media report saying non-medicos were allegedly treating Covid patients at Goa Medical College hospital, health experts have offered differing opinions. Few feel these alleged lapses should never go under the wrap, while others say the doctrine of negligence cannot be applied to an elusive disease like Covid.

Despite much respect and honour for healthcare workers, Dr Subhash Hira, Professor of Global Health, University of Washington-Seattle, said, “There are some aggrieved people who also see the glass is half-empty. “There is no doubt that where there are life services being delivered in a state of national pandemic, and many care providers are seeing bizarre conditions for the first time, there will be some slips.” He said many forget “over 728 doctors have died so far this year in India with Covid acquired during their work”.