Saturday 26 March 2016

Two docs suspended for putting up ads

Two docs suspended for putting up ads
Dr KK Aggarwal
 
Maharashtra Medical Council has suspended the registration of two city doctors for three months for putting up advertisements, which is a violation of medical ethics under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 as reported in DNA India yesterday. Both the doctors provide infertility treatment.  These two claimed guarantee of treatment and offered to return money to patients if they don’t not get the results.
Last September, MMC had issued show-cause notices to 40 doctors for putting up advertisements on print, TV and social media. After a hearing, some doctors were issued warning letters and some were suspended.

Last year, the MCI too had taken suo moto action against many Delhi hospitals for putting up advertisements.
As per Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, doctors cannot solicit patients directly or indirectly.

No doctor can make high claims about any procedure. The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India. It prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties, and makes doing so a cognizable offence.

MCI Code of Ethics Regulations
6. Unethical Acts: 6.1 Advertising

6.1.1 Soliciting of patients directly or indirectly, by a physician, by a group of physicians or by institutions or organisations is unethical………………………
6.1.2 Printing of self-photograph, or any such material of publicity in the letter head or on sign board of the consulting room or any such clinical establishment shall be regarded as acts of self-advertisement and unethical conduct on the part of the physician. However, printing of sketches, diagrams, picture of human system shall not be treated as unethical.
7.12 An institution run by a physician for a particular purpose such as a maternity home, nursing home, private hospital, rehabilitation centre or any type of training institution etc. may be advertised in the lay press, but such advertisements should not contain anything more than the name of the institution, type of patients admitted, type of training and other facilities offered and the fees.
7.13 It is improper for a physician to use an unusually large sign board and write on it anything other than his name, qualifications obtained from a University or a statutory body, titles and name of his speciality, registration number including the name of the State Medical Council under which registered. The same should be the contents of his prescription papers. It is improper to affix a sign-board on a chemist’s shop or in places where he does not reside or work.

IMA Advice
  • An announcement is allowed, in press, when starting practice; on change of type of practice; on changing address; temporary absence from duty; on resumption of another practice; on succeeding to another practice and public declaration of charges.
  • Photographs of doctor/s should not be published in such announcements.
  • Similarly, photographs of doctor/s should not be published when announcing opening of hospitals. 
  • Do not put sign boards on chemist shop.
  • Do not put road directions leading to your clinic.
  • Clinic should contain only name, qualifications, name of medical college, name of university, titles and name of speciality, and state medical council registration number.
  • Doctor-owned and run establishment (maternity home, nursing home, private hospital, rehabilitation center or any type of training institution) can be advertised mentioning the name of the institution, type of patients admitted, type of training and other facilities offered and the fees

2 comments:

  1. Really great news!!! this information is well worth looking everyone. Good tips. I will be sharing this with all of my friends! Thank you for sharing valuable information.
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    ReplyDelete
  2. What about advertisements of hospitals in public places in the form of massive banners,on buses,road dividers,over bus stands.

    ReplyDelete