Comments by a Principal (Prof.K.W.D.Ravi Chandar)

Dear fellow members representing IAFM, SIMLA & KAMLS at the MCI regarding the proposed document “Vision 2015”

I have put down some interesting facts about the back ground of CMC Vellore in the field of Forensic Medicine. This will help you understand the mindset of Dr George Mathews the Convenor of MCI undergraduate education working group 2010. He is also the Principal of CMC Vellore. It gives you a good insight about why the subject of Forensic Medicine is over looked and written off purposefully in the proposed changes to UG curriculum.

1.      CMC Vellore is a pioneering institute in South Asia for Clinical subjects. Unfortunately it is not the same when it comes to the Pre and Para clinical subjects.
2.      CMC Vellore though has got specialities and multi specialities in various subjects, deplorably it is not so with regard to Forensic Medicine in particular.
3.      The standard of Forensic Medicine taught to the students of second MBBS at CMC Vellore is miserably at a lower level when compared to the other medical colleges, particularly comparing it to GMC Vellore because Forensic Medicine is thought by teachers from other speciality at CMC Vellore.
4.      The practical knowledge of Forensic Medicine to the students of CMC Vellore is minimal because no medico legal work is done by the institute at any level.
5.      My experience as an external examiner in Forensic Medicine at CMC Vellore confirmed that the students were not exposed to the subject in an academic manner as their teachers themselves were not knowing the subject because they belonged to the other specialities
6.      My experience as a co examiner with the Forensic Medicine teaching staff of CMC Vellore posted to my centre as external examiners confirmed that  neither they had studied the subject of Forensic Medicine nor learnt of its theory aspect and their practical knowledge in Forensic Medicine was zero
7.      I brought it to the notice of the University of MGR, and others to disqualify the teaching staff of Forensic Medicine at CMC Vellore from becoming external and internal examiners in the subject of Forensic Medicine.
8.      There is no MD Forensic Medicine qualified teaching staff in the Department of Forensic Medicine at CMC Vellore.
9.      To cover up these gross deficiencies and lacunae on the part of the Department of Forensic Medicine at  CMC Vellore, the  prejudiced staff  member of this College who is heading the medical education work group at the MCI is trying to dictate or impress upon IMC about teaching the subject of Forensic Medicine by the staff of Surgery and OBG which is unpardonable because the subject of Forensic Medicine is a practical medical subject, not only to administer the justice to the common man and the society but also to regulate the practise of medical ethics and medical negligence by the clinical doctors in the practise of their medicine and surgery which has become unpalatable for them which is the reason by them to curb its growth and importance.
In view of the above facts the MCI should take all care to protect the subject of Forensic Medicine and give its due share in the medical curriculum and syllabus both for UG and PG courses in Forensic Medicine for the welfare of the human society. Improve the quality and give its due prominence which would automatically build capacity by drawing more doctors into this field and lastly the best incentive part for present teacher is to further the subject of Forensic Medicine.
I have no personal prejudice against CMC Vellore or Dr George Mathew but has made sincere effort in stating the facts about the practise of Forensic Medicine at CMC Vellore and why and how these practices have impacted in the policy document drafted for the MCI vision 2015.
I request the representing member of the Forensic Faculty at the MCI level to be aware of these facts which would help them when they meet the MCI.

Professor K W D Ravi Chandar BSc, MB BS, DFM, MD, DNBFM, FICMT
Principal,
Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences Shimoga, Karnataka State India.