Tamil Nadu: Quacks to be booked for Attempt to Murder from now on

Ironically, 19 of these quacks have now been released, some after paying a fine of mere Rs 1000. Many have even resumed practice, reports the daily. On the other hand, death toll in the district is on a steep rise. At least six of the eight children who died of viral and bacterial infections approached fake practitioners before they sought real help, but it was too late

The authorities, struggling to stop the menace in the absence of proper anti-quackery laws in the state, are now hunting for new solutions to the growing problem. One such suggestion is indeed to be book them under attempt to murder

" As of now, quacks are supposed to be booked for violation of sections of the Indian Medical Council Act, which prohibit non-medical people from practising medicine, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act if we find them doling out prescriptions. But most often they are booked only for cheating and impersonation," said K Senguttuvan, director of medical and rural health services. Officials told TOI.

IMC Act calls for a punishment of one year imprisonment and/or Rs 1,000 fine. Allopathic practitioner have called this punishment too low, demanding proper mechanisms and stronger political will to put an end to this menace of quackery

"What we need now is an anti-quackery law which has been long pending in the state," said Dr R V S Surendran, who is part of the ethics committee in Tamil Nadu Medical Council.