Chennai :- Attempt to change the gender identity of LGBTQ+ people by conversion therapy will be construed as “professional misconduct” of the doctor and the doctor will be prosecuted accordingly, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has told the Madras High Court. During the course of hearing a plea by a lesbian couple in Chennai seeking protection from police harassment, the Madras High Court had sought the view and recommendation of an expert committee on the issue of conversion therapy.
“In the recommendation, the committee had made it very clear that any attempt/intervention to change the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person, which is commonly known as conversion therapy, should be construed as professional misconduct on the part of the medical professionals under the Indian Medical Council, Professional conduct, etiquette and ethics regulation, 2002.” Said Justice N Anand Venkatesh.
Subsequently C L Guleria, Deputy Secretary (Ethics), Ethics and Medical Registration Board has stated in the order to all State Medical Councils that the NMC “has decided that conversion therapy will constitute a professional misconduct under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Misconduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002”.