MBBS with IGNOU PGDCC performing Echo: Hospital fined Rs 20 lakh

" It is to inform you that Postgraduate Medcial qualifications ( Indian/foreign) which are included in the Schedules to the IMC Act, can only be considered deemed to be recognised medical qualification(s) for the purposes of registration of additional qualification and entitlement of its holder(s) to practice in the speciality concerned.

Further, as per clause 7(2) of the Indian Medical Council ( Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, a physician shall not claim to be specialist unless he/she has special qualifications in that branch.

As per the available records, the postgraduate diploma in Clinical Cardiology awarded by Indira Gandhi National Open University is not included in the Schedules to the IMC Act.

In view of above, you are requested to take further appropriate action in the matter at your end please."

" With reference to this mail, I am to inform you that the medical qualifications, which are included in the Schedule of the Medical Council of India are only the recognised qualifications for grant of registration by any state Medical Council. The qualification awarded by the Indira Gandhi National Open University do not appear in the Schedule of Medical Council of India. Hence, registration to such qualification holders cannot be granted for practicing modern scientific medicine (allopathic)."

In view of the above communications, the employment of the doctor as consultant in charge, NI department and engaging him for conducting non-invasive procedure and echocardiogram and to give study report interpreting the data available from such a procedure and on the basis decide the course of the treatment is not only detrimental to patient care service but also completely unauthorised and illegal. The practice on the part of the Clinical establishment, BM Birla comes within the ambit of deficiency in patient care service and amounts to irrational and unethical trade practice.

It goes without saying that a qualified and trained technician can always carry out and perform a Non-invasive procedure like Echocardiography, monitor the same and record the findings obtained from the system. But it is not permissible for such technician to interpret the findings and give an impression about the medical condition of the patient. It is for a qualified cardiologist to interpret those findings and to give the impression out of that. However, in the present case, the Clinical Establishment, BM Biral entrusted Dr Ashok Giri with the independent charge of Non-invasive Department inclusive of conducting vital procedure like Echo cardiogram, Colour Doppler Studies, etc as also an unqualified person as technician for conducting such procedure.