NMC issues Deadline for Sending Comments on Live Surgeries Broadcast, details

New Delhi: The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has extended the deadline for sending comments on the live surgeries broadcast. 

Issuing an Addendum to the Public Notice dated 23.01.2024, the Ethics Board of NMC has notified about the new deadline and the email address where the stakeholders and members of the public are supposed to send their comments on the issue of live surgeries broadcast by private hospitals.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in its notice dated 23.01.2024, NMC had asked the stakeholders and the public, in general, to provide comments on the issue within the next 10 days, facilitating the Committee of Experts in their pursuit of a balanced and informed decision-making process.

However, at that time NMC did not inform about any email address for sending these comments. Now, the Commission has issued an addendum to the previous notice and informed the stakeholders to send the comments through an Email at ethics@nmc.org.in within 10 days of the publication of the new notice dated 29.01.2024.

"All stakeholders and members of the public are hereby informed to provide comments on the issue of live surgery broadcast by private hospitals to Ethics and Medical Registration Board through an E-mail at ethics@nmc.org.in, within 10 days of the publication of this notice," mentioned the NMC notice dated 29th January, 2024.

Also Read: Should Live Surgery Broadcasts be allowed in India? NMC invites comments from medical fraternity

NMC put the question 'Should the surgeries be broadcasted live?' before the various stakeholders in healthcare and the public after a plea was filed before the Supreme Court seeking a direction for laying down guidelines to regulate the live broadcast of surgeries without the informed consent of the patients, which could endanger their lives.

The counsel representing the petitioner had informed the apex court bench that at times the surgeon performing surgeries also advertised products like the stents used on the patients.

In its notice dated January 23, 2024, the NMC Ethics Board referred to the plea before the Supreme Court in which the petitioner held that many private hospitals are commercially exploiting the patients and using them as models to fulfil their ulterior motives through live surgery broadcasts in conferences.

"Various companies are promoting themselves and make a fortune out of the miseries of the exploited patients. Advertising sponsorship and professional showmanship overshadow the true purpose of these broadcasts. Healthcare facilities showcase their capabilities, surgeons flaunt their skills and companies promote their products all at the expense of patient safety. Pre-recorded surgical videos, edited to meet educational needs can achieve the same objectives with far less risk," the petition claimed.

The apex medical regulator has also constituted a committee of experts to provide recommendations on the issue of live surgeries broadcast by private hospitals in the country, with the approval of the NMC Chairman. Therefore, in this regard, NMC invited the comments from the stakeholders and the members of the public.

Debate over Live Surgeries:

“Live surgeries” become a matter of huge debate ever since the said plea was filed in the Supreme Court, last year, questioning the ethics and legal implications of the live broadcast of surgical procedures, with the petitioners likening it to Virat Kohli batting and commentating at the same time.

During the hearing, Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioners, had referred to a news report about the death of a patient whose surgery was being broadcast live, and said in some cases, people belonging to lower economic strata are induced to go for it.

To view the new notice by NMC, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-notice-29012024-231154.pdf

Also Read: Doctors Divided on Live Surgeries: NMC to form committee to take a call