Never mind the syringe; beware of the physician's karate chop.

Doctors in Muzaffarpur will be trained in martial arts in the wake of increasing attacks on the fraternity.

From next month, the Muzaffarpur unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) will hire black belt-holders in martial arts to train the doctors in self-defence. The decision follows a recent resolve by AIIMS-Delhi resident doctors under which karate trainers would be hired to train doctors.

Doctors associated with the IMA's Muzaffarpur unit said they have seen very little effort from the government in providing them security arrangements following back-to-back attacks, forcing them to take safety matters in their own hands.

On April 22, attendants of patients and villagers attacked doctors at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital while policemen beat up a doctor there on April 15 this year. And on January 22, people involved in illegal trade of blood hit surgeon Rajesh Kumar on the head with a revolver butt.

"In the old days, even sages kept shastra (religious books) and weapons," said Sanjay Kumar, a doctor who is a member of the IMA's Muzaffarpur unit. "There is nothing wrong if doctors take the help of martial art to protect themselves.

"Right now we are concentrating on the march called in Delhi on June 6 regarding the protection of doctors. The martial arts training will start after that. We are looking for a black belt karate trainer and have also decided to ask the authorities concerned to allow us to train in the stadium here," he added.

Senior vice-president of the IMA state chapter, Ajay Kumar, said he supported the Muzaffarpur wing's decision but would not take up a similar initiative around the state.

"Everybody has the freedom to take security measures, including doctors. Though I support the Muzaffarpur unit's decision, we are not going to take a similar initiative on the state level," said Ajay. "It is the state government's duty to provide protection to doctors."

He also said in many case doctors could avoid scuffles with attendants by adopting a sympathetic approach. "It will definitely deliver results," he added.

Many doctors with private practices in Patna said they have adopted security measures on their own such as installing closed-circuit television cameras in clinics, engaging bouncers and limiting the presence of attendants at the chambers.