CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Friday urged Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to immediately intervene in the "ill conceived move of Medical Council of India (MCI) to bring amendments to the Ethics Regulation for Doctors". In a letter to the Minister, Brinda said the move to exempt professional association of doctors from the jurisdiction of MCI would result in the escape of powerful persons and bodies like Indian Medical Association from responsibilities.
She said the Executive Committee of the Medical Council of India on February 18 amended rules to exempt the Professional Association of Doctors from the purview of Medical Ethics.
"It is inconceivable and objectionable that the MCI should exclude associations of medical professionals from the ethical standards that are expected of individual doctors. Does it then mean that what is impermissible for an individual doctor is permissible if he/she acts in association with othersIJ It is not just the absurdity of such a position, which is striking.
"The question arises if such a position has been taken because the present dispensation of the MCI is working to protect the IMA which has been found guilty of violation of ethical standards in an earlier case of endorsement for a remuneration of a commercial product of Pepsico for which action was taken against the office bearers of IMA who were involved," Brinda maintained.