Experts from other fields should probe med negligence: panel

Expressing concern over the practice of only health professionals enquiring into cases of medical negligence, a parliamentary panel has recommended that experts from various fields, including social activists, and representatives of patients should look into such complaints.
The committee headed by Brajesh Pathak in its report on the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill 2013, which was tabled in Lok Sabha today, also objected to the bill giving "sweeping powers" to the central government to influence functioning of Council and interfere with day to day working.
It said medical professionals probing into allegations are reportedly "very lenient" towards their colleagues guilty of medical negligence.

"The immediate impact of this arrangement is that the percentage of prosecution in the medical negligence cases by MCI is almost negligible," the committee said in its recommendation.
It said that in other countries non-doctors like patients and social workers are mandatorily made members of the Medical Council and they are known as "lay members" and on occasions they may even lead the council as was the case with UK's General Medical Council.
"The committee therefore recommends that all such cases of medical negligence should be inquired into by a committee of experts drawn from various fields and experience including social activists, patient's representatives etc...," the committee said.

The bill was referred to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare by Rajya Sabha on September 12 2013.
The report said that some of the provisions "are against the democratic tenets and are impermissible and unsustainable before the law. Vesting the central government with such sweeping powers will destroy the very autonomy of the council."
It has, however, recommended a regulatory mechanism to ensure that the council functions in the right direction.