The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sent a defamation notice to a Delhi-based motivational speaker for calling doctors ‘murderers in white coats’ in a video on his YouTube channel. Titled ‘Indian medical system ki asliyat ’, the video is an attempt by Vivek Bindra’s to showcase good and bad medical business tactics. The IMA is claiming ₹50 crore in damages.
In the 9.40-minute video, Mr. Bindra, says some doctors don’t know how to earn ethically. “They will extract money from everyone, be it ambulances, chemists, pharmaceutical firms, pathologists.” he says, citing examples of how Caesarean section operations have increased in number in the past few years. He also claims that doctors work under pressure, trying to meet targets for surgeries and diagnostic tests.
While he does not name doctors, Mr. Bindra gives the examples of cardiac surgeon Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty of Narayana Health, Dr. G. Venkataswamy of Aravind Eyecare and Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel. He says these doctors and organisations have made money ethically by innovating healthcare. “These are examples that need to be followed,” he says in the video, which was viewed 9.71 lakh times as on Monday evening.
Dr Ravi Wankhedkar, national president, IMA, said the doctor-patient relationship is already strained. “He is damaging this further by labelling the fraternity in this way. Complaints, if any, can be registered with the State Medical Council, Consumer Court and the human rights commission.” Former IMA president Dr. K.K. Aggarwal said the video should be taken down and Mr. Bindra should apologise.
Mr. Bindra said, “Our lawyers are preparing an appropriate reply to the legal notice, and the same will be shared with all, if need be.”
