Decoding “The Code Of Ethics”…..

The one issue which has forced me out of my cocoon is the newly renewed guidelines to the medical doctors about their relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. Through an amendment in its rules that govern the medical ethics in the country, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has prohibited practicing doctors from receiving any kind of gift from pharma companies the medical practitioners from attending seminars or events financed by pharmaceutical companies.

DWINDLING medical ethics have been a cause for worry in India for quite some time. From mugs and pens to expense-paid trips, the pharmaceutical industry's largess to doctors and hospitals has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Medical profession has too much into disrepute because of the various enticements the drug companies offered and are accepted. But are the doctors only responsible?? Or is it justificable to judge all the doctors on the same scale??

I have no doubts that any sane person, which includes most doctors, would welcome these restrictions, but I have a couple of points to make:

• Along with all the greedy, unscrupulous medical practitioners, genuine academicians have been needlessly restricted by these guidelines.

• While the guidelines exhort the doctors to stick to ethical conduct, there doesn’t seem to be any directive towards the pharmaceutical industry.

• Despite the MCI formally coming up with the guidelines, the average neighborhood doctor is unlikely to be aware of the existence of the rules and the type of reprimand or punishment they are likely to face in the event of a violation.

Now let us read this before I proceed further…

“Our efforts of last three years have finally borne fruits and we have been able to bring out an enforceable code of ethics for the doctors”, says Dr. Ketan Desai, president of MCI (Medical Council Of India)

Kudos to Dr. Desai for the passion in his words.

However, there are two things which will ever remain as a glitch in my mind regarding the issue. One is the fact that it took three years to formulate a code of ethics. Are ethics so complicated … Maybe they are in macroscales and governmental realms.

The second is the report by the media on the removal of Urology professor, Dr Desai, as the president Medical Council of India (MCI) on charges of corruption by the Delhi High Court way back in 2000…. He was reinstated layer of course.

Well… on that note, I take a leave and care not to write anymore. Nothing could better explain the grounds and basis of the ‘code of ethics’ and the long here years taken.

A loud round of applause to Dr. Desai and team… and best wishes for further long and never ending formulations.