The State Council of Maharashtra, IMA unanimously passed a resolution to stand by not only Dr Vishakha Shinde, but also the three nurses who were arrested in connection with the Ahmednagar Civil Hospital fire. The decision was made in a special meeting that was held in Mumbai, yesterday.

The newly elected IMA President, Dr Suhas Pingle said, “She is a member of our family. She is our daughter and we will stand by her. While she is out on bail, the charges against her are of serious nature, which will affect her career adversely. Slapping doctors and nurses with charges under Sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by authorities has raised serious questions about the safety of professionals in [this] democratic country.”