Private clinics under scanner over unethical practices

Srinagar, Dec 23: After hospitals, the private clinics in Jammu and Kashmir are under scanner over unethical medical practices by unregistered doctors with J&K Medical Council issuing warning of strict action under the law to safeguard patients.
President J&K Medical Council, Dr. Saleem Khan said that many private clinics and consultation centres in J&K, including single-practitioner clinics, poly-clinics, infertility centres, others, are allowing unregistered practitioners to operate, violating ethics and rules.
In a notice, the J&K Medical Council has directed private clinic proprietors not to allow any doctor to practice or perform procedures without proper registration with the Council.
“We have asked proprietors of clinics where clinical consultation is provided by allopathic medical practitioners not to permit any doctor, whether from J&K or from outside, to practice or perform procedures registration or qualification as may be the case,” he said.
“Such actions violate the rules/ethics and constitute a serious breach of professional ethics and the code of conduct. The J&K Medical Council has taken serious note of this to safeguard patients attending these clinics,” the president said.
“They should advise doctors working without proper registration in Jammu & Kashmir to apply for registration online at the J&K Medical Council website, www.jkmedicalcouncil.in, to ensure patient safety and avoid any breach of professional conduct,” he said.
He said that failure to comply would lead to disciplinary action against the medical professional under the Professional Conduct, Etiquette & Ethics Regulations, 2002.
On December 20, the J&KMC had warned private hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, clinical laboratories, blood banks in Jammu and Kashmir against unregistered medical practice and urged compliance to safeguard human lives.