Maintain Boundaries of Professional Relationship with Students even on Social media: NMC suggestion for teachers

New Delhi: In the recent guidelines on the Professional Responsibilities of Medical Teachers, the National Medical Commission has advised the medical teachers to maintain a cordial, but professional relationship with their students.

Medical Teachers have been asked to remain mindful of the boundaries in the student-teacher relationship even during the interaction with the students in social media.

"Teachers are expected to maintain a cordial, but professional relationship with their students which strictly respects boundaries in the student-teacher relationship during all interactions including social media," stated the recent guidelines issued by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC.

Further, the apex medical commission has also opined that it is mandatory for teachers to remain "unbiased and fair" in their interactions with student and mentioned that the teachers "should not discriminate on the basis of region, religion, caste, gender, sexual orientation, language, socio-economic class, or any other factor."

According to the guidelines, the medical teachers should give effective feedback keeping in mind that the feedback is informative rather than punitive. Teachers have also asked to ensure that the disciplinary action against the students are undertaken on a one-to-one basis and asked teachers to avoid humiliating the students in front of their peers or in public.

Also Read: Medical Teachers Must Participate in Examination Process to ensure sanctity and fairness of exam: NMC Guidelines

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NMC in the guidelines has discussed about the personal attributes and conduct of teachers including several factors such as teacher as a role model, the teaching-learning process, and assessment and examination process. Apart from this, NMC has also discussed the teacher-student interactions, bedside teaching, responsibilities of teachers to their colleagues, and responsibilities of teachers to the community.

The guidelines have also discussed the role of teacher as a researcher and a voice of science- including the responsibilities of teachers in the conduct of research. NMC has also specified the support framework to ensure optimal functioning of medical teachers at both National and Institutional level.

Mental Well-being of Students: 

Specifying the role of the teacher as a facilitator or mentor, NMC also discussed about the ideal way of teacher-student interactions. Advising the students to maintain a cordial but professional relationship with the students, the Apex medical commission also observed that the teachers should be aware of the stress and mental health problems that the students are facing.

Medical Dialogues has been reporting about numerous cases of suicides by medical students across the country. Taking cognisance of the instances of suicide and resignation of medical students, last year NMC had directed the medical colleges in the country to submit statistics regarding the number of students who committed suicide and left colleges during the last 5 years within October 7, 2022.

Apart from this, the Apex medical commission had also sought to know from the colleges about the details regarding the working hours and weekly off given to the students.

Previously, the commission had also addressed the grievances of the Post Graduate (PG) Medical Students (Resident Doctors), who had claimed that they are under stress and depression due to long working hours.

In this regard, the medical colleges had been directed to take numerous steps ranging from ensuring adequate rest, weekly off, counseling for those who are under stress, arranging Yoga sessions on regular basis, sanctioning leave when required and respecting their dignity by providing a positive conductive working environment.

The colleges had also been directed to set up a committee to look into the complaints/grievances including anonymous complaints/grievances which may be submitted by PG students either through mail or received in a drop box specially placed for this purpose.

The matter has once again been addressed in the recently released guidelines on "Professional Responsibilities of Medical Teachers". In this regard, NMC mentioned in the guidelines, "Teachers must be aware of the stress and mental health problems that students face and should be aware of the processes available in their institutions to address these issues."

"Teachers may involve parents/guardians/near relatives (as applicable) if required under special circumstances or if considered appropriate by professionals/ authority. They may also refer students to appropriate professionals if required," it further mentioned.

Apart from this, NMC has also asked the teachers to keep minutes of departmental meetings and discussions pertaining to individual students, confidential. They have also been asked to be available for their students to clear academic doubts of the students, take part in mentorship programmes of their students and help in addressing the problems of the students, and function as a facilitator to motivate students for self-directed learning.

"Teachers must be aware that they teach a diverse student population i.e. measures should be taken to the best of their abilities to address the additional needs of high performers, as well as needs of those students who may be finding difficulties with the course," further mentioned the guidelines.

"Teachers must follow the conduct regulations with respect to their interactions with the pharmaceutical companies /their representatives as well as allied health sector," it added.

However, releasing the guidelines, the apex commission has clarified that "The intention behind these Guidelines is not to penalize or point a finger at any teacher but to remind him/her of the professional role of a medical teacher in the training of medical students & other healthcare professionals and in life of students and the nation. The hope is that they will introspect in light of these guidelines and improve the quality of teaching and reduce gaps in learning in light of expectations of students and society."

Also Read: NMC releases Guidelines on Professional Responsibilities of Medical Teachers, details