Chennai, June 21 -- Highlights:

* Violence against doctors is a grim reality in India

* It is influenced by many factors that have a direct or indirect impact on the problem

* Prevention is possible //through multilateral cooperation between everyone concerne

' No physician, however conscientious or careful, can tell what day or hour he may not be the object of some undeserved attack, malicious accusation, blackmail or suit for damages .' - JAMA, 1892.

This quotation, which is 127 years old, highlights the fact that violence against doctors is not a new phenomenon, but goes back to over a century, if not more. The problem has persisted for so long that this may sound like a prophecy in the 21 st century!

Once-up-a-time, doctors were...