What to mention in signboards, visiting cards, announcements, and prescriptions? NMC Do's and Don'ts for doctors

New Delhi: In its first publication of an e-book titled "Professional Conduct Review - Lessons from Case Archives", the National Medical Commission (NMC) has laid down the do's and don'ts on what to mention in the signboards, visiting cards, announcements and prescriptions.

While stressing that doctors should not mislead the public through signboards, visiting cards, announcements etc, the NMC has mandated that doctors should not use an unusually large signboard and write on it anything other than their name, qualifications, titles, speciality or registration number. The commission further directed that the prescription papers should also have the same contents.

According to clause 7.13 of Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, it is improper for a physician to use an unusually large sign board and write on it anything other than his name, qualifications obtained from a University or a statutory body, titles, and name of his speciality, registration number including the name of the State Medical Council under which registered. The same should be the contents of his prescription papers, the NMC stated.

"It is improper to affix a signboard on a chemist’s shop or in places where he does not reside or work," the NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) said in the e-book.

The NMC further pointed out that a physician shall not claim to be a specialist unless he/she has a special qualification in that branch, according to clause 7.20 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. In view of this clause, Registered Medical Practitioners should register their additional qualification with the respective medical councils.

The commission stated that care should be taken not to mislead the public through signboards, visiting cards, announcements etc.

 Also Read:Professional Conduct Review - Lessons from Case Archives: NMC unveils its first publication

The book also highlighted that a trust deficit in the doctor-patient relationship leads to litigation against the doctors and emphasised that the most common cause of complaints against doctors is due to a communication gap. 

Medical practitioners may acquire skills and training in various areas related to a particular field, but the use of the title ‘consultant/specialist’ should be restricted to those who are qualified in the particular speciality, it said.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the launch of the e-book by the apex medical regulator. Altogether nine (9) case archives have been discussed in Volume I. In respect of each and every case, the book has discussed different topics including- Communication Between Doctor and Patient's Relatives, Allegation of Wrong Diagnosis Leading to Delay in Treatment, Specialty Practice-Without Adequate Qualification/Training, Clinical Drug Trial and Role of Registered Medical Practitioners, Elective LSCS done by a General Surgeon Leading to Maternal Death, General Surgeon doing Hysterotomy, Documentation of Surgical Procedure, Misrepresentation of Qualification and Alleged Overcharging by a Medical Practitioner, Life-Threatening Events: A Dilemma for Patient Family.

For each of the cases, the book elaborates on different aspects such as the keywords, context/category, abstract, summary of the case, discussion, decision of State Medical Councils or NMC Ethics Board, lessons learned from the case, take-home message, etc.

The patients feel dejected when they don't find the behaviour of a doctor up to their expectations. Doctors too feel that patients have no right to complain unless there is harm, the NMC has mentioned in the book. The commission has further stated that apart from known causes of litigation against doctors like problems related to communication consent and medical records, etc., a new problem faced is fixing responsibility when the treatment is done by a team of doctors.