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

New Delhi: 'Should the surgeries be broadcasted live?' - The National Medical Commission (NMC) has now put forth this question before the various stakeholders in healthcare and the public.

In a public notice dated January 23, 2024, NMC’s Ethics and Registration Board referred to a writ petition 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.

To reach a verdict, the apex medical regulator has also constituted a committee of experts to provide recommendations on the issue of live broadcast, along with seeking comments from stakeholders and the public on live broadcast of surgical procedures on patients by private hospitals within the next 10 days.

“In pursuance of the Petitioner's prayer it has been decided to constitute a Committee of experts to give recommendations on the issue of live surgeries broadcast by private hospitals in the country, with the approval of the Hon'ble Chairman, NMC,” the NMC stated.

"in this regard all stakeholders and members of the public are invited to provide comments on the said issue of live surgery broadcast within the next 10 days, facilitating the committee in their pursuit of a balanced and informed decision-making process," the notice further read.

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.

Considering the arguments, the Supreme Court had sought responses from the Centre and others and stated that it would leave the issue to be considered by the NMC.

Soon, after the Supreme Court hearing, the matter drew a set of mixed reactions. While one faction of the medical fraternity does believe that live surgeries are indeed risky and pose a high risk to patient safety with the presence of many distractions to the performing surgeon, there is another faction that believes that these types of surgeries are integral to medical education and one of the best ways of training young doctors on various surgical modalities.

To view the official notification issued by the NMC, click here