Give clear-cut guidelines on telemedicine: IMA asks Medical council of India

Apart from managing medical emergencies and situations involving adjustment of insulin levels in regular patients, analgesics for acute exacerbation of chronic pain under regular treatment etc., telephonic consultation will lead to medical negligence, the IMA said in a statement released today.

"Judicious use of telemedication in certain circumstances can be justified, but as the code of ethics is silent on these emerging areas, judicial over-activism can prove to be detrimental to this noble profession.

"Online consultations, online prescriptions and telemedicine are all topics which have posed ethical dilemmas. But at the same time, advancing technology can be harnessed for augmenting healthcare in remote areas, especially telemedicine and mobile health. The MCI must come out with clear-cut guidelines on these important issues, which many developed countries have," Dr Ravi Wankhedkar, National President of the IMA said.