NMC Guidelines stress on developing Scientific temperament in medical students
New Delhi: Issuing the guidelines specifying the professional responsibilities of MBBS and PG students, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has mentioned that medical students are expected to develop a scientific temperament and strive toward excellence.
"Students are expected to develop scientific temperament and strive towards excellence," the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC mentioned in the Guidelines.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in the recently released guidelines on "Professional Responsibilities of Medical Students", NMC has discussed several issues related to the students including responsibilities related to academic growth, responsibilities related to personal growth, responsibilities towards society and national goals, and support framework to ensure optimal functioning and growth of medical students.
Referring to the responsibilities of medical students related to their academic growth, NMC stressed upon the the need for the students to develop scientific temperament and mentioned, "In this regard, students are expected to commit themselves diligently and continuously to self-directed and enquiry-driven learning so as to lay the foundations of `life-long learning' which are essential to the practice of medicine. Such practices are expected to prepare a student especially in light of the changing disease patterns, and advances in technology and therapies, among others."
Encouraging the students to participate in research, the guidelines stated, "Students are expected to be willing to get involved in research during their MBBS course under the guidance of their teachers. They should be familiar with the ICMR guidelines that govern research. A student is expected to be aware that all research including student research must be approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee."
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Apart from this, among other responsibilities of students regarding academic growth, NMC has mentioned that the students are expected to attend teaching-learning sessions diligently, with the awareness that the "learning does not come from books alone but from the vast experience of teachers and from practical teaching-learning encounters."
In this context, NMC Ethics board reminded the students that "adequate attendance is a prerequisite for attaining eligibility to appear in professional examinations."
Directing the students to remain honest and practise integrity during all examinations, the Commission clarified that cheating in any form equivalents to corruption that undermines the purpose of the examinations and also runs contradictory to what is expected of a medical student.
The commission mentioned how practical and bed-side learning are an essential component of the learning process and how they constitute distinct learning methods that cannot be substituted.
Mentioning that the acquisition of skills is an active process, the Apex medical commission has directed the students to ensure that they observe and perform procedures/ processes outlined in the curriculum.
"Each patient encounter is unique and helps the student understand the person behind the patient. Students are expected to attend these regularly and actively participate in them," NMC stated in the guidelines.
The guidelines further mentioned that the students need to maintain their logbooks, practical records and case record books diligently. Copying, fudging and manipulation of these records are unacceptable and will invite serious penalties as per institutional norms, mentioned the Commission.
Directing the students to prepare for and undergo certifications for all the competencies listed in the revised curriculum, the Guidelines stated that if required, students may need to undergo remedial training and re-certification.
"These guidelines may serve to remind them of their social obligations even during the training period, in the spirit of human service and excellence and help them align with the goals of curriculum for Indian Medical Graduate (IMG). It is expected that these guidelines will be used by Teachers, Medical Education Unit (MEUs) and Institutions to instill a sense of responsibility in Medical Students rather than using them for punitive actions," the NMC ethics board mentioned in the guidelines.
Also Read: NMC releases Guidelines on Professional Responsibilities of Medical Students
