Leading Psychiatrist Lands in soup on allegedly claiming to cure Homosexuality

After the claim was made in the YouTube channel of the Akola-based Psychiatrist, who has around 1.17 million subscribers, a Mumbai-based radiation oncologist raised red flags and lodged a complaint before IPS, which has a membership of more than 7000 psychiatrists.

IPS has formed a five-member committee to look into the issue and the committee will be chaired by Dr. Tophan Pati, from Orissa. Other members include, Dr Sanjay Kumawat from Mumbai; Dr Suresh Bada Math from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS); Dr. Vishal Chhabra from New Delhi; and Dr Jyoti Shetty from Pune.

Meanwhile, within 24 hours of IPS setting up a probe, the Maharashtra-based Psychiatrist has deleted all the videos from his YouTube channel. Not only this, but the doctor has also uploaded a new one clarifying that homosexuality is not an illness.

"My statements get misinterpreted and misunderstood," the doctor claimed in the new video and made it clear that he helps only those patients who requests for his interference and are suffering from depression or anxiety etc. He further requested everyone not to misunderstand his statements.

Also Read: Cancel license of medical professionals for any involvement in conversion therapy of LGBTQIA members: Madras HC to NMC

As per the latest media report by Hindustan Times, on January 3, 2022, the doctor allegedly claimed that he has "cured" homosexuals. He also mentioned that he suggests erectile dysfunction tablets to men who are "attracted to other men".

The daily adds that the doctor in a video posted in November, 2019, had claimed to be able to use hypnotherapy, visualization techniques and self-suggestion techniques in order to "reorient a male homosexual", so that he can marry a woman.

Complaining against such claims, the Mumbai-based radiation oncologist, who is also the co-founder of Mumbai Seenagers, an organization dedicated to help the older LGBTQ+ members to socialize in a safe environment, approached the IPS.

"While effort is done by the LGBT task force of IPS to sensitise medical professionals and the general population about the LGBTQ+ community, a Life Fellow of IPS is actively in gross violation of the IPS' stand on homosexuality. This is jeopardising the credibility of IPS statement and is spreading illegal, non-scientific information for financial gains," complained the doctor in his mail.

"The Madras High Court in June 2021 has banned the practice of conversion therapy in India... the National Medical Commission (NMC) also has slammed conversion therapy as pseudoscience and confirmed that (anyone practising it) is liable for professional misconduct," further added the mail.

The complainant radiation oncologist had previously worked side by side with the IPS to decriminalize consensual gay sex and to scrap off the section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. He alleged that the accused doctor is advocating non-scientific myths on the origin of homosexuality in his YouTube channel.

He informed HT that about his plans of initiating legal action against the doctor and said. "Dr Kelkar has studied in NIMHANS and worked at PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) at Chandigarh. Both are apex institutes in the country. He is an eminent psychiatrist. The videos talking about homosexuality as an illness and conversion therapy to treat it, are unscientific and damaging. The LGBTQ community living in non-metro areas are already oppressed. Parents will be flocking to him looking for treatment. He is proudly presenting success stories. It is a serious matter that needs to be dealt with at the earliest."

Referring to the new video uploaded by the accused doctor, he opined it to be more damaging as the doctor has put the blame on the patients who seek help from him.

"Being a psychiatrist, his role is to help by reassuring them that homosexuality is a normal phenomenon. The person who has homosexual thoughts or confused with sexual orientation needs counselling. The reason for their struggle is societal lack of acceptance," he said.

While commenting on the matter, Dr Amrit Pattojoshi, executive member of IPS and also its LGBTQ task force coordinator told HT, "We received the complaint from Dr Dandekar who informed us about videos uploaded on YouTube by Dr Kelkar on conversion therapy. Our president Dr NN Raju immediately decided to form an internal committee to investigate the matter."

"All forms of treatment or therapy that Dr  has mentioned as a cure for homosexuality including individual psychotherapy, behavioural therapy, hypnotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and physical therapy are unscientific. As a society we do not encourage them," he added.

Speaking about the matter, the General Secretary of Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), Arabinda Brahma told Medical Dialogues, "Dr. Kelkar is a very senior psychiatrist, based in Maharashtra. We are looking into the matter and a committee has been formed for this purpose. The five-member committee will be chaired by Dr. Tophan Pati, from Orissa."

"The stand of IPS has always been clear in this matter. Homosexuality is not a disease and IPS does not endorse "conversion therapies" at all. In fact, I believe, almost all the psychiatrists in India, no matter where they are from, holds the similar beliefs. In fact, from our end, we would like to convey this message to the community as well- that do not treat homosexuality like a disease," he added.

It should be noted in this context that the Apex Court on September 6, 2018 had done away with the Article 377 that criminalized gay sex.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year the Madras High Court had suggested a slew of measures which included the suggestion to cancel the license of medical professionals for any involvement in any form or method of conversion "therapy".

Such a judgment had come from the Madras High Court in an attempt to remove the stigma and prejudices associated with the LGBTQA+ community.