Kerala based hepatologist lands in soup for defaming Ayurveda and stating it as Pseudoscience

Written by Sanchari Chattopadhyay Published On 2022-02-08T10:59:59+05:30 | Updated On 8 Feb 2022 10:59 AM IST

Kerala based hepatologist lands in soup for defaming Ayurveda and stating it as Pseudoscience

Kochi: A Kochi-based hepatologist came under the radar of the Kerala State Medical Council for Indian Systems Of Medicine after he gave a controversial interview where he allegedly claimed that the use of certain herbs such as Giloy (chittamruthu) can be harmful to the liver. The doctor also allegedly called the traditional branch of medicine called Ayurveda, a 'pseudoscience'.

This came after the doctor gave an interview to a Malayalam YouTube channel and talked about Herb-Induced Liver Injuries in June of last year. During his interview, he explained how the use of certain herbs such as Giloy (chittamruthu), which is also used as a treatment measure, can be harmful to the liver. Speaking to TNM, he said that he did not make illogical claims and has given examples of published evidence regarding all pseudoscientific practices and specifically some herbal drugs which are toxic to the liver. "I specifically spoke about Giloy, which is very liver toxic, based on a paper from Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Bombay," he said.

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The council has served a notice to the doctor on January 31 and referred the issue of penal action against the doctor to the ethics committee of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Councils (TCMC) based on the orders from the Union Ministry of AYUSH. The doctor is yet to file his response. In the letter, the council mentioned, " the said derogatory and misleading clause be immediately removed…otherwise the Ministry shall be compelled to initiate defamatory proceedings against the contravening doctor."

As per a recent media report, in September last year Sadath Dinakar, general secretary, Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI), filed a complaint against the doctor with the Prime Minister's Office and alleged that he defamed Ayurveda by calling it unscientific and hepatotoxic. AMAI had also alleged that the doctor had termed many medicine producing facilities as quacks though they are Good Manufacturing Practices-certified companies of Ayurvedic medicines. The Union AYUSH Ministry later considered proceedings against him for 'denigration of traditional systems of medicine'.

The National Medical Commission then took note of the issue and highlighted clauses 8.2 and 8.4 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, that deal with disciplinary and punishment actions. "The NMC forwarded it to the TCMC ethics committee. It is the council for Indian systems of medicine in TCMC, not the one on modern medicine, which has sent me this notice now. This council has no authority or jurisdiction to do so," the doctor told The Hindu on Saturday.

In his defense, the doctor further stated, " They have not defined what professional misconduct I have committed. Under what clause of the ethics code has it been mentioned that criticizing Ayurveda as pseudoscience is professional misconduct? They should first prove their charge, then only I need to respond to their letter. Otherwise, I am not bound to reply".

The matter had already evoked comments from many medical professionals on social media. While some of them have tweeted siding with the doctor, the other have criticized his stance.

@HeatherMacPhai3 , You hold a Masters in Music not medicine. Listen to what doctors holding a degree in evidence based medicine like Dr Abby Philips @theliverdr have to say on that matter. https://t.co/qAcvQGKiiF
— Dr (Mrs) P. Viswanath (@PVmysore) February 7, 2022

I stand in support of Dr Abby Philips. @theliverdr . All those criticising him should look inwards at themselves. When Dr Philips says something, it stems from his solid educational qualifications, his experience and his publications. https://t.co/JGA10vmkoX
— Dr (Mrs) P. Viswanath (@PVmysore) February 4, 2022

Multiple FIRs have been lodged against Ramdev in Patna and Raipur following complaints by the Indian Medical Association. Sections 188 269 and 504 IPC have been invoked against him. Same section of crPc should be lodged against Dr.jobless @drabbyphilips why because he wants to
— Rashmi Singh (@RashmiS69466472) February 4, 2022

hepatologistKerala State Medical Council for Indian Systems of Medicineliver specialistTravancore-Cochin Medical Councilsayushtraditional medicineprofessional misconductchittamruthugiloy

Source : with inputs

Sanchari Chattopadhyay

Sanchari Chattopadhyay has pursued her M.A in English and Culture Studies from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal. She likes observing cultural specificities and exploring new places.