Supreme Court cautions IMA over unethical conduct by allopathic doctors

The Supreme Court recently warned the Indian Medical Association (IMA) about the complaints of unethical practices by allopathic doctors. The top court was hearing a contempt case against Patanjali Ayurved over publication of misleading advertisements in violation of a court undertaking. The IMA is the petitioner in the matter. 

The bench comprising Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked the IMA to get its house in order. Justice Kohli told Senior Advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for the IMA that while the petitioner is pointing fingers at the respondents, other four fingers are also pointing at them because members of the petitioner’s Association have been busy endorsing medicines to their patients. 

Furthermore, Justice Kohli also asked Patwalia as to how many times the complaints were brought to notice and what the IMA was doing with respect to such member-doctors. Responding, the Senior Advocate stated that IMA was cleansing across the Board and would look into the allegations. 

Questioning why the Court should not bring IMA as well under scrutiny, Justice Kohli remarked that it is a question that they need to ask the association. The Judge added that it is not going to be all just that there are FMCGs, but there is also IMA and its members who are prescribing medicines on the strength of recommendations made for which there is valuable consideration. 

The court further observed that they are of the opinion that the IMA also needs to put its house in order. It added that there are several complaints made with regard to alleged unethical acts of members of the IMA who prescribe medicines to the patients in the line of treatment, where there is misuse of their position, in recommending highly expensive medicines and/or extraneous medicines for valuable considerations. 

The Court further impleaded the National Medical Commission to render assistance, when it was noted that all allopathic doctors are registered with it and as such it would be in a better position to suggest a solution or give data.