Cross practice

The editorial Cross practice at the cross roads (Issues in Medical Ethics 1996; 4: 103-104) aptly represents the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court against non-allopathic doctors practising allopathic medicine and vice versa. It also clearly states that such practices violate, per se, the Indian Medical Council Act, constitute medical negligence and attract fines or imprisonment.

It is a disgrace for the Medical Council of India that such a judgement became necessary. Does this august body know that in Mumbai nursing homes and private hospitals are under the care of non allopathic resident medical doctors employed by allopathic owners? These non-allopathic resident doctors not only manage general wards but also critical areas such as intensive care units and intensive cardiac care units. They not only attempt to interpret traces on cardiac monitors but also proceed to treat them and even administer DC shocks on their own judgement. The specialists who run such intensivecare units depend heavily on the findings conveyed by such doctors over the telephone and proceed to recommend changes in therapy on the basis of this information.

A recently announced Heart Brigade attached to a private nursing home sends out a non-allopathic doctor to the patient’s home when it receives emergency calls.

Are those employing such non-allopathic doctors not liable for medical negligence?