Question : Conduct and Ethics for Doctors

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Medical Council of India sets any norms regarding professional conduct, ethics and policy for registered doctors which take care of the interests of the doctors as well as the community in a comprehensive manner;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the total number of complaints received by the council during the last three years and the total number of complaints settled and pending out of them, State/UT-wise; and

(c) the total number of doctors found guilty of professional misconduct during the last ten years along with the action taken in this regard, State/UT-wise?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): Medical Council of India with the previous approval of the Central Government has notified Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette And Ethics) Regulations, 2002 to prescribe standards of professional conduct and etiquette and code of ethics for medical practitioners. The MCI or the appropriate State Medical Councils have been empowered to take disciplinary action against a doctor for violation of the provisions of the aforesaid Regulations. As and when complaints are received against the violation of code of ethics for doctors, such complaints are referred by MCI to the concerned State Medical Councils where the doctors/medical practitioners are registered. The MCI is an Appellate Authority.

(b): MCI informed that during the last three years, the complaint received are as under:
2015 2016 2017
Total complaints
received in the year 154 164 67
Complaints refer to State
Medical Councils in the year 83 98 50

(c): The details of action taken by the MCI against the doctors found guilty of professional misconduct are at Annexure.