The Hindu : DMA demands council elections

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

DMA demands council elections

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 14 . The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) has demanded that elections to the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) which have been pending for the past four years be held as soon as possible. It has also demanded that the annual permission fee of 10 per cent on nursing homes in residential areas should not be considered since doctors at the nursing homes also invest time in numerous community projects and free services.

Also, it has said that in case of mishap, doctors should not be booked under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code without going through the Medical Board.

A DMA delegation met the Lieutenant-Governor, Vijai Kapur, earlier this week to present their charter of demands. "Unfortunately four years have elapsed since the DMC came into existence and till now there is no communication regarding the constitution of a duly- elected and representative DMC,'' pointed out the DMA president, Anil Bansal.

He said: "This is blatant violation of the democratic rights of the DMC members and has resulted in unjustified and non-mandated extension to the nominated Council beyond three years.''

As for their request to re-consider the order regarding permissibility of nursing homes in residential premises and their regulations, Dr. Bansal pointed out that doctors in their interaction with the Lieutenant-Governor had said that they were shocked to see the letter according to which the Government has decided to charge an annual permission fee at the rate of 10 per cent from nursing homes.

The doctors are also demanding that for medical negligence offence, the treating physician should not be booked under IPC 304 but 304 (A). "The argument that we put forward is that no treating physician treats with the intention to harm a patient. And though one can commit any negligence professionally, but a doctor should not be compared with a murderer and should not be booked under Section 304 under any circumstances while discharging his professional duties,'' said Dr. Bansal.

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