MP Urologist suspended by medical college after PM Modi-themed Social Media Ad goes Viral
Bhilai: Taking action against an urologist, who advertised himself on social media violating regulations laid down by the National Medical Commission (NMC), Bhilai-based Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Medical Sciences has suspended the doctor and initiated an inquiry into the matter.
This comes after the doctor advertised his urology services in a controversial post, which has become viral on social media platforms including WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter).
In the said post, the doctor quoted a phrase from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, stating that "Blood and water cannot flow together".
Referring to the phrase by the Prime Minister, the concerned doctor wrote in the viral post, "So if you see blood in your urine, immediately consult a urologist. It may be serious." The social media post also included the doctor's photo as well as his name.
However, this advertisement soon resulted in a controversy as the institute where the doctor works as an Associate Professor of General Surgery, has now suspended the doctor for 15 days.
Issuing an office order in this regard on 15.05.2025, SSIMS, Bhilai mentioned, "Your act of advertising yourself, which has been getting viral on WhatsApp, social media is unwarranted and disgraceful on your part being a responsible medical personnel. The management has therefore taken a very serious view of above act of yours."
Suspending the doctor for 15 days, the order further added, "You are hereby suspended with immediate effect for a period of 15 days and you need to report to the office of the undersigned daily at 09:00 am."
"A high-power committee has been constituted by the administration that will enquire the matter and submit the report within 48 hrs. for taking further course of action against you," the order issued by the Dean of the institute stated.
What Does NMC Say?
Doctors’ use of social media can have enormous benefits for patient care whether it is by engaging people in public health and policy discussions, busting myths and tackling medical misinformation or establishing national and international professional networks. However, it becomes perilous when the tools of social media are used by practitioners for self-promotion or glorification and worse to solicit and gain more patients patient base.
Keeping the rising use of social media in mind, the Apex Medical Regulator had laid down the rules for conduct by doctors on such platforms, National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2023, which were later put on hold. Back then, the Commission had mentioned in the regulations that the doctors would have to refrain from buying likes, and followers on social media as well as posting patient "success stories".
The guidelines mentioned that "The broader principle of medical ethics should guide the use of social media by RMPs." It further added, "All written and visual communication should be truthful, respectful, and professional."
Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002:
Under these regulations, doctors are barred from using his/her name, signature, or photograph in any form or manner of advertising through any mode. It states, "Soliciting of patients directly or indirectly, by a physician, by a group of physicians or by institutions or organisations is unethical. A physician shall not make use of him / her (or his / her name) as subject of any form or manner of advertising or publicity through any mode either alone or in conjunction with others which is of such a character as to invite attention to him or to his professional position, skill, qualification, achievements, attainments, specialities, appointments, associations, affiliations or honours and/or of such character as would ordinarily result in his self aggrandizement. A physician shall not give to any person, whether for compensation or otherwise, any approval, recommendation, endorsement, certificate, report or statement with respect of any drug, medicine, nostrum remedy, surgical, or therapeutic article, apparatus or appliance or any commercial product or article with respect of any property, quality or use thereof or any test, demonstration or trial thereof, for use in connection with his name, signature, or photograph in any form or manner of advertising through any mode nor shall he boast of cases, operations, cures or remedies or permit the publication of report thereof through any mode."
"Printing of self photograph, or any such material of publicity in the letter head or on sign board of the consulting room or any such clinical establishment shall be regarded as acts of self advertisement and unethical conduct on the part of the physician. However, printing of sketches, diagrams, picture of human system shall not be treated as unethical," it further mentions.
