Withdrawn Esteem: Medical Journal Lancet Faces Indian Doctors Heat over Controversial Editorial

Kashmir: Renowned British medical journal is now facing the ire indian medical fraternity after it published a controversial editorial recently commenting on the Kashmir issue

The editorial 'Fear and uncertainty around Kashmir's future' was published in The Lancet on August 17. The editorial talks about sharply about the recent move of the Indian Government abrogating Article 370

The article states that the presence of thousands of Indian security forces in Kashmir “raises serious concerns for the health, safety, and freedoms of the Kashmiri people.”

Further talking about the health of the Kashmiri people, the article states “Despite decades of instability, developmental indicators suggest that Kashmir is doing well compared with the rest of India. In 2016, life expectancy was 68·3 years for men and 71·8 years for women, which are greater than the respective national averages. However, protracted exposure to violence has led to a formidable mental health crisis.”

As soon as the article was published, it drew a sharp reaction from Indians on twitter and other social media platforms. The Indian Medical fraternity also did not stay behind.

Reacting sharply to an editorial on Kashmir published in The Lancet recently, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said the British medical journal has no locus standi on the matter and has committed "breach of propriety" by commenting on the political issue.

The association said the medical journal has reacted to an internal administrative decision of the government of India under the garb of concern for the health of Kashmiris and questioned the "malafide intention behind the uncalled for the editorial".

"It is unfortunate that reputed medical journal The Lancet has committed a breach of propriety by commenting on this political issue.

"It is amounting to interference into an internal matter of Union of India. The Lancet has no locus standi on the issue of Kashmir. Kashmir issue is a legacy that the British Empire left behind," the doctor's body said in a letter to Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet Richard Horton.

The Indian Medical Association, the National medical organization of India baptised in the fire of freedom struggle condemns this unsolicited intrusion into the affairs of the Sovereign Republic of India, the IMA said.

Generations of Indians, especially doctors and medical students, will carry the unpleasant memory of this act of commission by The Lancet.

"We wish to question the credibility and the malafide intention behind the uncalled for editorial. The Indian Medical Association, on behalf of the medical fraternity of India, withdraws the esteem we had for The Lancet," they said in the letter.

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