• Source:ANI
Add as a preferred

Taking a major step toward stopping violent instances against medical practitioners, doctors can now refuse to treat "abusive, unruly, and violent patients or relatives", the National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practioner said.

"The RMP who attends to the patient will be fully accountable for his actions and entitled to the appropriate fees. In case of abusive, unruly, and violent patients or relatives, the RMP can document and report the behaviour and refuse to treat the patient. Such patients should be referred for further treatment elsewhere," the notification mentioned under the duties of RMPs towards their patients said, according to news agency ANI.

These new regulations will replace the Medical Council of India's (MCI) Code of Medical Ethics 2002. With this development, doctors will have the legal authority to refuse the treatment of unruly and violent patients. The move has been taken to deter violence against medical professionals.

"RMP is free to choose whom he will serve, except in case of a life-threatening emergency. Having accepted a case, the RMP should neither neglect the patient nor withdraw from the case without giving adequate notice to the patient and his family. If a change of RMP is needed (for example, the patient needs a procedure done by another RMP), consent should be obtained from the patient himself or the guardian. The RMP who attends to the patient will be fully accountable for his actions and entitled to the appropriate fees," the notification stated.

Doctors are not permitted to accept gifts, travel opportunities, or other benefits from pharmaceutical corporations a sit mentioned in the notification.

"RMPs and their families must not receive any gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, cash or monetary grants, consultancy fee or honorariums, or access to entertainment or recreation from pharmaceutical companies or their representatives, commercial healthcare establishments, medical device companies, or corporate hospitals under any pretext," it said.

The regulation also stated that RMPs should not be involved in any third-party educational activity like CPD, seminars, workshops, symposia, conferences, etc., which involves direct or indirect sponsorships from pharmaceutical companies.

( With ANI Inputs)