Medical Associations should not endorse food brands
Dr Kuldeep
Please go through this debate:
1. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RVRNLzIwMDgvMDUvMDgjUGMwMDQxMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
which says there is no harm in promoting healthy drinks
2. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RVRNLzIwMDgvMDUvMDgjUGMwMDQwOQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
which says that it is against code of ethics as per PCI regulation
2002
Please give your comments.
Dr Kuldeep
Dr Pravir Bodkha
Prsident IMA, published in TOI regarding :Doctors have
the right to promote". In this article Dr. Ajay Kumar
mentioned that the deal with Pepsi is non commercial
one where Pepsi Co. will help IMA in sponsoring events
and other public flora.
Question is if Indian Medical Association is
sponsoring any health product for getting sponsorship,
is it ehical??? In legal terms will it not amount to
consideration to be given to IMA in form of
sponsorship??
In this regard please refer the following CHAPTER 6
on UNETHICAL ACTS :As published in Code of Ethics
Regulations, 2002 (Published in Part III, Section 4 of
the Gazette of India, dated 6th April,2002)
MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA, NOTIFICATION New Delhi,
dated 11th March, 2002
It states that:6.4 Rebates and Commission:
6.4.1 A physician shall not give, solicit, or receive
nor shall he offer to give solicit or receive, any
gift, gratuity, commission or bonus in consideration
of or return for the referring, recommending or
procuring of any patient for medical, surgical or
other treatment. A physician shall not directly or
indirectly, participate in or be a party to act of
division, transference, assignment, subordination,
rebating, splitting or refunding of any fee for
medical, surgical or other treatment.
6.4.2 Provisions of para 6.4.1 shall apply with equal
force to the referring, recommending or procuring by a
physician or any person, specimen or material for
diagnostic purposes or other study / work.
If the governing council of all the doctors in India
i.e.MCI is considering such an act by a physician as
an unethical act how the Indian Medical Association
can take consideration in form of sponsorship by
promoting Pepsi fruit juice.
Such an act of IMA will promote unethical practice
among doctors and MCI should strictly prohibit such
act. and as a citizen to safeguard interest of the
socity a PIL public interst litigation should be filed
against IMA and also against MCI if they don't take
any strict action against IMA.
Dr. Pravir Bodkha
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
bhavsar vinay
I appreciate your views expressed in write up. As you pointed out a serious ethical issue is involved which will have long term consequences. Similar issue there when IDA endorses some tooth-paste.
Serious remedial measures are needed immediately.
manish nigam
dear sir
i had seen the reactions given by seniors in medical education unit and and i fully agree to the fact that this would criple down the ethics of medical society if went unchecked.but since it is a debatable topic i would just like to give one view and i would like you all to react to it.
IMA has promoted a product which is a health drink.It is not that dr. do not promote any purticular brand or a product.writing or changing trade names of medicine instead of the generic names just to satisfy the pt. who has been referred by some other dr. is how far justified?
we all know the roles of medical representatives in this issue and why should they be entertained unless they come up with some new drug or the combination of drug.my views regarding it is- promotion of a product by some association like IMA after thorough scientific reason and majority of executive members supporting it would be a better deal than promotion of a purticular health drink by individual dr in his area because he is an icon of that area.
The only unethical issue rising here would be that wether IMA is taking any undue consideration or not.If sponsorship of events/ meetings and public foras taken as personnl considerations then the pharmaceuticals sponsoring various conferrences/cme would also have a big ?
I feel it is, more of a moral issue where law has less role to play because such ethical negligence are not punishable as a crime. even no fine can be charged against the person or a body unless civil negligence is proved (i.e.some individual is hurt/injured).taking fruit juices cannot harm an individual.
These are just my views which may be wrong or may hurt the centiments of medical education fraternity.According to me IMA would be responsible for any illeffect produced by the said drink and under right to information act we can ask information officer of IMA that what is the scientific reason of promoting purticular product like tropicana? why not real juices?
Of course comparing this issue with royal challenge or bagpiper is undigestable, because we as a dr. have different responsibility in the society than others.
Actually creating controversy is another type of advertisement which the pepsico has already succeded in.those who have read the mail or read the news paper or seen the news in tv will atleast come to know such sort of oat juices and would certainly prefer over other trademarks.
thanks
On Thu, 08 May 2008 Dr Kuldeep wrote :
>
>Hello everyone!
>
>Please go through this debate:
>
>1. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RVRNLzIwMDgvMDUvMDgjUGMwMDQxMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
> which says there is no harm in promoting healthy drinks
>
>2. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RVRNLzIwMDgvMDUvMDgjUGMwMDQwOQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
>
>which says that it is against code of ethics as per PCI regulation
>2002
>
>Please give your comments.
>
>Dr Kuldeep
>>
Associate Professor,
Department of Forensic Medicine,
SAIMS, Indore.
 |
sharad
Dr.Manish
The points made by you are very pertinent,i agree with most of
it.Because patients seek not only treatment from the Dr.s but also
advices.
I believe that as far claims are research based there should be no
problem in recommending any product,ie there should be evidence to the
claim being attested by the IMA.
These claims should be unambiguous and open to scientific enquiery by
anyone concerned even the competitors of the product.
I guess properly carried out it a venue for lot of research!!
Regards
K.S.Sharad
P.S:I disagree with the openion that its more moral than legal.An
esteemed body would always own up what ever it states.
On May 12, 1:38 am, "manish nigam" <jurimanish...@rediffmail.com>
wrote:
> dear sir
> i had seen the reactions given by seniors in medical education unit and and i fully agree to the fact that this would criple down the ethics of medical society if went unchecked.but since it is a debatable topic i would just like to give one view and i would like you all to react to it.
> IMA has promoted a product which is a health drink.It is not that dr. do not promote any purticular brand or a product.writing or changing trade names of medicine instead of the generic names just to satisfy the pt. who has been referred by some other dr. is how far justified?
> we all know the roles of medical representatives in this issue and why should they be entertained unless they come up with some new drug or the combination of drug.my views regarding it is- promotion of a product by some association like IMA after thorough scientific reason and majority of executive members supporting it would be a better deal than promotion of a purticular health drink by individual dr in his area because he is an icon of that area.
> The only unethical issue rising here would be that wether IMA is taking any undue consideration or not.If sponsorship of events/ meetings and public foras taken as personnl considerations then the pharmaceuticals sponsoring various conferrences/cme would also have a big ?
> I feel it is, more of a moral issue where law has less role to play because such ethical negligence are not punishable as a crime. even no fine can be charged against the person or a body unless civil negligence is proved (i.e.some individual is hurt/injured).taking fruit juices cannot harm an individual.
> These are just my views which may be wrong or may hurt the centiments of medical education fraternity.According to me IMA would be responsible for any illeffect produced by the said drink and under right to information act we can ask information officer of IMA that what is the scientific reason of promoting purticular product like tropicana? why not real juices?
> Of course comparing this issue with royal challenge or bagpiper is undigestable, because we as a dr. have different responsibility in the society than others.
> Actually creating controversy is another type of advertisement which the pepsico has already succeded in.those who have read the mail or read the news paper or seen the news in tv will atleast come to know such sort of oat juices and would certainly prefer over other trademarks.
> thanks
>
> On Thu, 08 May 2008 Dr Kuldeep wrote :
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >Hello everyone!
>
> >Please go through this debate:
>
>
> >which says that it is against code of ethics as per PCI regulation
> >2002
>
> >Please give your comments.
>
> >Dr Kuldeep
>
> Dr Manish Nigam, MD
> Associate Professor,
> Department of Forensic Medicine,
>
> - Show quoted text -
Sukhwant Bose
my new e mail address is sukhwa...@yahoo.com. please make
appropriate changes in your address book.
thanx,
Dr. Sukhwant bose.