Senior Faculty must mentor Junior Faculty: NMC Guidelines

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has encouraged the senior faculties in medical colleges to act as a mentor for their juniors.

Discussing the responsibilities of medical teachers to their colleagues, the apex medical commission mentioned in the recently released guidelines on "Professional Responsibilities of Medical Teachers" that "Senior faculty are encouraged to mentor junior faculty."

Further, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC has clarified that the medical teachers are expected to maintain collegial relations with their colleagues.

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.

Also Read: NMC Guidelines call for Empathy and Compassion from Medical Teachers

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."

While specifying the responsibilities of medical teachers to their colleagues, NMC has advised the teachers to maintain collegial relations with their colleagues. Apart from this, the senior faculties have been encouraged to mentor their juniors.

Over the years, Medical Dialogues had been reporting about cases where junior doctors get harassed by their seniors. There are also instances where unable to take the pressure of harassment, the junior doctors take extreme steps such as committing suicide.

However, in the recent guidelines, NMC Ethics Board has mentioned that "Teachers have a key role in supporting continued professional development of their colleagues both inside and outside teaching institutions. They are encouraged to respond to the professional needs of colleagues who work in rural/ underserved areas where opportunities of continued professional development may be limited."

NMC has also mentioned that when the teachers observe unethical behaviour among any of their colleague, they are expected to report the same to the appropriate authorities for action.

Responsibilities of Teachers to Community: