On Jan 1, 2015, at 3:58 AM, Frederick FN Noronha * फ्रेड्रिक नोरोन्या * فريدريك نورونيا <[email protected]> wrote:
"Why Indian Medical Association’s bid to check corruption in hospitals has not impressed many The Indian Medical Association has a poor track record in scrutinising the behaviour of even its own office-bearers, say activists." COMMENT: While it is in the interest of the physicians to 'police' themselves, wrt reported or alleged corruption, before a third party steps in to do that, Medical Associations face the following realities: COMMENT: 1: Medical Associations are like quasi-unions. Their primary purpose is to look after the welfare and protect the interests of the member-physicians. 2: Almost invariably, Medical Associations lack statutory authority to take action against an errant hospital or even an errant physician wrt to alleged corruption. They tend to act usually in cases where Overwhelming 'Evidence' is presented; Sometimes, score-settling may occur. 3: Corruption is almost always in the realm of Fraud, a criminal act. Criminal acts need serious funding and trained personnel to investigate and take it from there. 4: The body which holds the "KEY" to registration esp Annual renewal of registration ( ie The State Medical Council ) usually has the funding and statutory authority to investigate reports of alleged corruption on the part of physicians. I would be surprised IF the hospitals came under the purview of the Medical Councils; the State must find another instrument or constitute another body to do that. ( BTW: Do ALL those who practice medicine in Goa, HAVE to register with the Goa Medical Council before being able to practice in Goa? IF NOT, it is a paper tiger ) 5: Medical Councils are normally able to access legal resources from the Attorney General's office. However, I seriously doubt that the Goa A-G's office has the medical expertise also needed to seriously investigate these allegations. 6: As Medical Councils normally are statutory bodies, their actions are subject to Judicial Review. This means further legal representation at the High Court level. Judging by what Goa A-Gs have been charging for court appearances, the Medical Councils will go broke trying to respond to Judicial Reviews. 7: The sad part of it all is that the following statement gains acceptability : WHY only target Doctors and Hospitals when the entire system is corrupt? 8: Consequentially, the patient suffers. PS: I am not convinced that the author of the referenced-article has conducted the necessary research necessary for such an article ....as it refers to Goa or India. jc j. colaco Medicine, Law, Medical Law
