- By Ritesh Kumar
- Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:39 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced the withdrawal of the Competency Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) guidelines, 2024, which were released on August 31, 2024. The NMC has stated that a revised set of guidelines will be issued soon and made available on the official website.
"It is informed that the circular of even number dated 31.08.2024 thereby issuing Guidelines under Competency Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) 2024, stands “WITHDRAWN AND CANCELLED” with immediate effect. The above guidelines will be revised and uploaded in due course. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority," reads the notification.
Controversial Topics Removed
The withdrawn guidelines included contentious topics such as sodomy and lesbianism, which were classified as unnatural sexual offences. According to news agency PTI, these topics, along with others like the hymen, its types, and its medico-legal significance, were initially reinstated. They had been removed in 2022 following a Madras High Court directive.
Revised Curriculum Details
The revised curriculum under forensic medicine and toxicology will include:
- Legal competencies such as Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO)
- Civil and criminal cases
- Inquest procedures (Police Inquest and Magistrate's Inquest)
- Cognisable and non-cognisable offences
The curriculum addresses various sexual perversions including fetishism, transvestism, voyeurism, sadism, necrophagia, masochism, exhibitionism, frotteurism, and necrophilia. However, distinctions between consensual sex among queer individuals have been removed.
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Changes To Training And Learning Objectives
The amended curriculum eliminates the seven-hour training on disability. At the conclusion of teaching-learning in forensic medicine and toxicology, students are expected to:
- Understand the medico-legal framework of medical practice
- Be familiar with codes of conduct, medical ethics, professional misconduct, and medical negligence
- Conduct medico-legal examinations and document various medico-legal cases
- Understand the latest Acts and laws related to medical professionals, including relevant court judgments.