Highlights

• Marking a bold departure from the existing code of ethics that covers the medical profession, the IMA — an umbrella voluntary body that counts more than 2.5 lakh, or about a third, of the country’s doctors as its members — is in the process of redefining the code in order to ensure a more contemporary outlook.
• The current code of medical ethics by the Medical Council of India dates back to 2002.
• The IMA would be releasing a handbook on the redefined code of medical ethics to its members at the association’s annual cultural festival in Pune this weekend.
• The code would subsequently be submitted to all the relevant Central Ministries – health, medical education, law and justice and the MCI – for consideration.

Code of medical ethics

• The handbook would comprise 24 topics that either need to be reviewed or find no mention in the current code.
• For example, the current MCI norms do not allow doctors to publicise their practice through any type of advertising.
• Adding that the IMA believes that any publicity material should be ethical and approved after scrutiny by the respective State medical councils.
• IMA’s handbook also looks at the topic of ‘end of life’.
  • After much discussion, IMA is of a view that doctors cannot give consent for deciding on pulling the plug.
  • It is against physician-assisted suicide. This decision can only be taken by relatives.
• Ethical issues around Assisted Reproductive Technology and surrogacy also find a mention in the handbook and the IMA states that doctors should ethically ensure that surrogates and egg donors are not exploited.
• The IMA also recommends that cadaver organ donations must be made compulsory for all unless an individual specifically states that he or she does not want to become an organ donor.
• India carries out a high number of living donor transplants as compared to cadaver organ donations.

A revamp has been due for long.

Indian Medical Association (IMA)

• Indian Medical Association is the only representative, national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large.

Objectives:

• To promote and advance medical and allied sciences in all their different branches and to promote the improvement of public health and medical education in India .
• To maintain the honor and dignity and to uphold the interest of the medical profession and to promote co-operation amongst the members thereof.
•  To work for the abolition of compartmentalism in medical education, medical services and registration in the country and this to achieve equality among all members of the profession.

Working:

• The general control management and direction of the policy of the Association is vested in the ‘Central Council’ to which local branches send representatives and which meets once a year to lay down policies.
• It delegates its powers to a Working Committee (A representative body of all state Branches) for implementation of programmes and activities.
• This committee meets at least three times a year to execute various activities for welfare of members and the people in matters of health.

The Hindu