Imphal, January 17 2009: One senior doctor of Anaesthesia Department, JN Hospital Porompat has been chastised and warned by Joint Task Force (Medical and Health) for performing surgical operation in a private hospital against medical ethics.

Parading the doctor before mediapersons at a location in a valley district today, a spokesperson of the JTF observed that many doctors have been acting as if they don't understand professional secrecy and dedicated service.

Senior most doctor in Anaesthesia Department Dr N Tomcha is among the doctors who have been violating medical ethics for their selfish ends rather than attending office regularly and supervising their juniors, the spokesperson said.

On learning that Dr Tomcha has been engaging himself in surgical operations in Chambers of Commerce Hospital at Thangal Bazar and Raj Polyclinic at North AOC instead of attending his office at JN Hospital regularly, JTF cadres went to these private hospitals to confirm the report.

Dr Tomcha was found performing operations in these private clinics, conveyed the spokesperson.

Saying that the Dr Tomcha was being paraded before media as first warning and to correct himself, the spokesperson said that this was also a warning to all doctors working against medical ethics with the objective to earn more.

The JTF (MH) has no objection to a doctor doing his personal work during free or off-duty time, holidays or before and after office hours.

Even during duty hours, the JTF (MH) does not prohibit any doctor leaving his office for a private hospital to save a patient, clarified the spokesperson.

However, all doctors should comply with the rules and regulations announced by the JTF (MH) on August 24 last year through mass media, he added.

After the announcement, all Head of Departments working in Health Department, Family Welfare Department and RIMS have been intimated to see that their subordinates and juniors discharge their duties properly.

However, despite the announcement and intimation, many doctors, nurses and relevant officials have been found working against medical ethics, disclosed the spokesperson.

With top ranking officials clamouring for higher posts and paying more attention to contract works/supply; doctors dedicating themselves in private clinics/hospitals for their selfish ends; sending patients to laboratories and pharmacies having contact with them with an eye to get certain percentage would be considered as taking the public for a ride and challenging KYKL-UNLF.

In the same fashion, laboratory technicians/employees including those of Radiology Department causing technical snags/ equipment failure deliberately just to send patients to private diagnostic centres set up by them (employees), nurses paying inadequate attention to patients against their professional ethics will also treated as defying the public and the two outfits.

All these employees deviating from their duties and violating professional ethics will be awarded punishment according to their faults, he cautioned.

He further appealed to see whether any doctor working in local PHSCs or large hospitals including RIMS are working against their professional ethics or ill-treating patients.

If there is any such case, inform JTF (MH) so that the JTF's new initiative for people's welfare is fruitful, said the spokesperson.

Comment