Doctors Can Now Refuse To Treat "Abusive, Violent" Patients: Medical Body
NDTV
These new regulations will replace the Medical Council of India's (MCI) Code of Medical Ethics 2002.
Doctors can now refuse to treat "abusive, unruly, and violent patients or relatives", the National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practioner said, taking a major step toward curbing the ongoing instances of violence against medical practitioners.
"The RMP who attends to the patient will be fully accountable for his actions and entitled to the appropriate fees. In case of abusive, unruly, and violent patients or relatives, the RMP can document and report the behavior and refuse to treat the patient. Such patients should be referred for further treatment elsewhere," the notification mentioned under the duties of RMPs towards their patients said.
These new regulations will replace the Medical Council of India's (MCI) Code of Medical Ethics 2002. This is for the first time that doctors will have the right to refusal of patient treatment to unruly and violent patients. The move is aimed at discouraging violence against doctors.
