The Medical Council of India (MCI) has backed the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) – a self-regulatory voluntary organisation of the advertising industry – for taking action against doctors whose advertisements violate the Medical Code of Ethics Regulations, 2002.
In its letter, the MCI ethics committee has strongly backed the ASCI for its efforts and self-regulatory mechanism of ensuring ethical advertising practices.
The ASCI had recently observed and processed a large number of complaints about healthcare products and services being promoted mentioning the doctors. As per the MCI rules, doctors cannot promote themselves through advertisements.
As an immediate action, the ASCI forwarded to the MCI a list of such doctors who were resorting to such advertisements in newspapers and on television and also making misleading, false and unsubstantiated claims. As a response to that, the MCI has directed the ASCI to send them a State-wise list of allopathic doctors registered with MCI/State Medical Councils (SMC) who have been advertising their products or services so that appropriate action can be taken.
MCI has also directed ASCI to refer to the Indian Medical Registry for obtaining details of erring doctors and has instructed SMC to further investigate and take action within six months against such doctors who do not follow the Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette & Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
This would help MCI to take required action in accordance with the code of Medical Ethics. MCI also sought help from ASCI to report advertisements by fake doctors to appropriate law enforcing authorities.
ASCI chairman Narendra Ambwani termed the development an “important landmark” for ASCI in its efforts towards protecting consumers from misleading advertising. MCI has advised ASCI to ensure strict action against allopathic doctors who malign the image of medical professionals and violate the Medical Code of Ethics.
