"As per medical practice ethics, no one can guarantee success of treatment. The money-back scheme is a temptation that the doctor is offering to a patient and it is very unethical," said Dr Arun Nayak, president, Mumbai Obstetric and Gynaecological Society (MOGS), the umbrella body of gynaecologists in Mumbai.
The three-month suspension of two city doctors for offering money-back schemes to their patients has shocked the doctors' association, who've said that this is for the first time that the Maharshtra Medical Council (MMC) has taken such a harsh decision. The local and national gynaecology bodies, however, have decided to stand by the council's decision, saying patients are not a commodity and cannot be enticed with money-back schemes.
"As per medical practice ethics, no one can guarantee success of treatment. The money-back scheme is a temptation that the doctor is offering to a patient and it is very unethical," said Dr Arun Nayak, president, Mumbai Obstetric and Gynaecological Society (MOGS), the umbrella body of gynaecologists in Mumbai.
Both the doctors are working in the field of infertility treatment. The MMC's suspension now means that the duo cannot practise medicine for the next three months. The council has taken this action against these doctors under the Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. According to the MMC, these two doctors have committed the same offence a second time.
Nayak said that MOGS doesn't support any of its member following unscrupulous practices. "In fact, we encourage our members to let us know if any other members are involved in unscrupulous activities or are following unethical medical practices," he said, adding that the suspension of the doctors will be taken up in their upcoming managing committee meeting on Tuesday.
In a city like Mumbai, infertility is a concerning issue for many couples and treatment for it is considered costly. The cost of one In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment cycle is between Rs1 lakh to Rs2 lakh per cycle and the rates vary from hospital to hospital. "For a layman, IVF is the ultimate treatment for infertility. They have a lot of hope attached to IVF, though the success rate in even very good IVF centres is only 35-40%. There are many IVF centres with only basic infrastructure that have mushroomed. The MMC's decision will send a strong message and make a positive impact," Nayak said.
Agreeing with Nayak, Dr Prakash Trivedi, the immediate past president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), said his society, too, will stand with the MMC's decision. "It is the supreme body and we will abide with the decision. The medical profession cannot be a package trade. Doctors are luring patients with money-back schemes. We will discuss the issues with the managing committee," said Trivedi.
Also welcoming the MMC's decision, Dr Arun Bal, president, Association for Consumers Action on Safety and Health, said: "It is unethical and such doctors should be de-registered from the council."
Doctors also said that it is high time that hospitals, too, are brought into the ambit of the law. "Hospitals, too, are advertising but there is no body like the MMC that can take action against them. Also, there is a need to take another look at what and how a doctor can advertise without enticing patients," said a senior infertility expert.
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