Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Medical Council (UKMC) in the last 6 months has issued notices to 41 doctors for violating its ‘Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics Regulations, 2002’, by agreeing to appear in advertisements on hoardings, banners, and newspapers. In a bid to revive the issue of professional ethics of the doctors, UKMC has directed these doctors to undergo 150 hours of continuous medical education. The council said that doctors faces in advertisements were “an embarrassment, a clearcut violation of laws, and unethical” and the doctors should focus on work and not the limelight. UKMC further warned the doctors that if the doctors were found flouting the notices and repeating the offense again strict legal action would be initiated against them which may range from suspension to suspension of license. UKMC further said that it has not put a blanket ban on advertisements but it was important to maintain the dignity and decency of the profession. Doctors are advised not to use their photos in advertisements.
Dr DD Choudhury, member secretary of the Ethical & Disciplinary Committee of UKMC, said,”A single doctor is claiming to treat multiple specialties on hoardings. This is unsettling. Hospitals using doctors’ photos as a tool for advertising and marketing is unacceptable as per the ethics of the Indian Medical Council. A person’s degree and specialties are sufficient to convey their skills.”