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National Medical Commission: How It Quietly Stripped Patients' Rights

National Medical Commission: A detailed report about how the NMC quietly stripped patients' rights. Examining the impact of the National Medical Commission Regulations on patients' rights.

By Prema Sridevi
New Update

 

How the National Medical Commission Quietly Stripped Patients Rights
National Medical Commission | Representative image | Photo courtesy: Special arrangement

National Medical Commission and Patients Rights

Article 32 of the Indian Constitution, often referred to as the 'heart and soul' of our democratic charter by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, is a pivotal provision that grants citizens the right to seek redressal from the Supreme Court in cases of fundamental rights violations. Recently, this constitutional safeguard was invoked by Uttam Chand Meena, who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the Central government and the National Medical Commission (NMC), formerly known as the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Meena's plea hinges on the contention that specific sections of the NMC Regulation 2023 - namely regulations 39(G) and 44 of the NMC Regulation, 2023 - should be struck down due to their infringement upon fundamental rights, including the right to equality (Article 14), the right to freedom of speech and expression (Article 19), and the right to life and liberty (Article 21).

So, what is the contentious issue that prompted Meena to take legal action, and why does it infringe upon some of the most cherished rights enshrined in our Constitution? The bone of contention lies within the National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023.

Regulation 44 of the NMC Regulation 2023 confers the right upon Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) who are aggrieved by decisions made by the State Medical Councils to appeal before the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB). If an RMP remains dissatisfied with the EMRB's decision, they can further appeal to the National Medical Commission. However, glaringly absent from the NMC regulations is any provision granting victims of medical ma

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