New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020 do not allow registered medical practitioners (RMPs) to sign Pathology and Radiology lab reports via remote authentication without their physical presence and supervision.
This response came following a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Dr. Rohit Jain, who sought clarification on whether cloud-based Telepathology & Teleradiology software could be used for remote authentication of lab reports.
NMC’s Stand on Telemedicine & Remote Authentication
In response to the RTI, NMC explicitly stated:
“No. These guidelines do not address the use of telemedicine for remotely operated invasive or surgical procedures.”
This reaffirms that remote authentication of lab reports without a doctor’s direct supervision is not permitted under existing regulations.
Concerns Over Misuse of Digital Signatures
With advancements in technology, the use of digitized/scanned signatures for lab reports has become common. However, this practice has raised concerns, as unauthorized lending and misuse of signatures have been reported.
Past Incidents of Signature Misuse
- 2018: The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) barred a pathologist for lending his name and registration number to over 200 laboratories across the state without personal supervision.
- 2019: The Medical Council of India (MCI) (now NMC) clarified that the physical presence of doctors was mandatory for authenticating laboratory and radiology reports.
Telemedicine Guidelines & Misinterpretation
Dr. Jain pointed out that some doctors mistakenly believe the Telemedicine Guidelines 2020 permit telepathology and teleradiology authentication.
“Scanned signatures are being misused for remote authentication across the country. Some doctors lend their signatures for a fee without actually verifying the tests,” he noted.
He explained that while Telemedicine Guidelines allow consultations between doctors, they do not permit the remote signing of lab reports without physical verification.
Ethics Board’s Decision & NMC’s Reiteration
Dr. Jain’s RTI (filed in November 2024) was forwarded to the Ethics Board of NMC, which upheld the requirement for a doctor’s physical presence for lab report authentication.
This latest clarification from NMC reinforces the ethical and legal responsibility of doctors to personally verify reports before signing, ensuring accuracy and patient safety.
