MCI lays down guidelines on sexual relation between docs and patients
Says Even ‘Consensual’ Sexual Activity Between Them Is Not Acceptable
Chaitanya.Deshpande@timesgroup.com
Nagpur:18.04.2019
Doctors from all over the country will now follow specially designed guidelines to restrain themselves from entering into a ‘romantic relationship’ with patients.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) has adopted ‘guidelines on sexual boundaries for doctors’ which was framed by the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS). The guidelines, which were released on the MCI website, are expected to be followed by medical practitioners of all faculties.
While the laws relating to sexual abuse in India generally pertain to women, the guidelines adopted by the MCI are gender neutral and serve as a guide for a code of conduct on doctors of any gender.
The guidelines have many interesting points. It says that even ‘consensual’ sexual activity between patients and doctors is not accepted. Even if it is the patient who attempts to initiate the sexual relationship, it would be against good medical practice for a doctor to enter into such a relationship. A relationship with a former patient too is discouraged and could be construed as unethical.
A member of MCI’s ethics committee told TOI that the members decided to adopt the guidelines of IPS after discussions. “We were forced to form some guidelines after the Delhi high court questioned us about the MCI’s rules against sexual misconduct. It was after taking suo motu cognizance of a case involving a doctor of Indian origin in the US in 2017. The doctor was earlier registered with the MCI. The court directed us to adopt the existing guidelines of IPS after examining them,” the committee member said.
Nagpur’s Dr Sudhir Bhave, a member of the central committee of the IPS which prepared and adopted the guidelines in 2015-16, told TOI that psychiatrists have been following the guidelines for more than two years now. “However, the IPS never forced other medical associations to follow it. Now, as the MCI has adopted it, we must welcome the development. In fact, these guidelines should be extended to interactions with students, colleagues and other professionals in the multidisciplinary team,” he said.
Academicians in the medical field, however, find nothing new in the guidelines. “Many points are taught in medical ethics and medical etiquettes to every doctor during their MBBS course. However, like in every profession, a few black sheep exist in the medical profession too who get involved in unethical behaviour. So, having properly framed guidelines may help in taking action in such cases,” said Dr Ajit Pathak, controller of examinations, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences.
CALLS IT UNETHICAL
Says Even ‘Consensual’ Sexual Activity Between Them Is Not Acceptable
Chaitanya.Deshpande@timesgroup.com
Nagpur:18.04.2019
Doctors from all over the country will now follow specially designed guidelines to restrain themselves from entering into a ‘romantic relationship’ with patients.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) has adopted ‘guidelines on sexual boundaries for doctors’ which was framed by the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS). The guidelines, which were released on the MCI website, are expected to be followed by medical practitioners of all faculties.
While the laws relating to sexual abuse in India generally pertain to women, the guidelines adopted by the MCI are gender neutral and serve as a guide for a code of conduct on doctors of any gender.
The guidelines have many interesting points. It says that even ‘consensual’ sexual activity between patients and doctors is not accepted. Even if it is the patient who attempts to initiate the sexual relationship, it would be against good medical practice for a doctor to enter into such a relationship. A relationship with a former patient too is discouraged and could be construed as unethical.
A member of MCI’s ethics committee told TOI that the members decided to adopt the guidelines of IPS after discussions. “We were forced to form some guidelines after the Delhi high court questioned us about the MCI’s rules against sexual misconduct. It was after taking suo motu cognizance of a case involving a doctor of Indian origin in the US in 2017. The doctor was earlier registered with the MCI. The court directed us to adopt the existing guidelines of IPS after examining them,” the committee member said.
Nagpur’s Dr Sudhir Bhave, a member of the central committee of the IPS which prepared and adopted the guidelines in 2015-16, told TOI that psychiatrists have been following the guidelines for more than two years now. “However, the IPS never forced other medical associations to follow it. Now, as the MCI has adopted it, we must welcome the development. In fact, these guidelines should be extended to interactions with students, colleagues and other professionals in the multidisciplinary team,” he said.
Academicians in the medical field, however, find nothing new in the guidelines. “Many points are taught in medical ethics and medical etiquettes to every doctor during their MBBS course. However, like in every profession, a few black sheep exist in the medical profession too who get involved in unethical behaviour. So, having properly framed guidelines may help in taking action in such cases,” said Dr Ajit Pathak, controller of examinations, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences.
CALLS IT UNETHICAL
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