To,
1) The Union Health Secretary,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi
2) The Board of Governors,
Medical Council of India,
New Delhi
Sub: Regarding importance of Forensic Medicine in undergraduate Medical curriculum and the recent Vision 2015 by MCI
Respected Sir,
Myself Dr.M.B.Shrigiriwar, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Indira Gandhi Govt. Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra hereby feel very sad to inform you that the recent “Vision 2015” which proposes the undergraduate medical education in India by the Undergraduate Medical Education Working Group 2010 is a myopic and tunnelled policy which totally neglects the importance of Forensic Medicine in the society and is all set to sideline the subject from the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum.
The importance of Forensic Medicine needs to be elaborated here as it seems that even the top bosses of the medical fraternity having a role in policy decisions are unaware of it. Forensic Medicine is a branch of medical sciences which deals with all the medicolegal issues. Right from conducting post-mortems, issuing medicolegal injury certificates, age certificates, sexual assault examinations etc. the perspective of Forensic Medicine is vast. The experts from this field work in collaboration with the police and the Judiciary for fair impartment of the justice. And it is most condemnable act on behalf of the Board of Governors, Medical Council of India to even think of removing such a subject from the curriculum of the future doctors which is so closely concerned with the general public and the Judiciary of India.
A draft for approval –Restructured Medicolegal Curriculum for MBBS Course in India was prepared in December 2007 by Expert Panel for revision of Under Graduate Medicolegal curriculum and chaired by Hon’ble Justice M. N. Venkatachalaiah (Former Chief Justice of India, Former Chairman National Human Rights Commission, India) Submitted to United Nations Development Country Office- SAJI project, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Justice, Government of India, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, President & Secretary of Medical Council of India and all Executive members of medical Council of India who are Forensic Medicine Specialists.
This expert panel was the most comprehensive working group to handle the future and the standard of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology in Undergraduate Medical Curriculum as it comprised the most eminent Forensic and Legal Experts from all over the country. The members of this panel were as follows:
Members of the Expert Panel
1. Justice M. N. Venkatachalaiah, Chairperson, Former Chief Justice of India, Former Chairman National Human Rights Commission, India
2. Prof. P. K. Devadass Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, Bangalore
Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore
3. Dr. Karunakaran Mathiharan Advisor, Institute of Legal Medicine, Chennai, Hon. Director, Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (RCTV), Madurai
4. Mr. Henry Tiphagne Lawyer and Executive Director, People’s watch Tamil
Nadu
5. Dr. (Flt Lt).M.A.Balasubramanya Anaesthesiologist and Secretary, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysore, Karnataka
6. Dr.V.Raju District Surgeon, Mysore
7. Mr Thimmanna Naik Public Prosecutor, Mysore
8. Dr.Chandrashekar Kapse Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine BLDE Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka
Members of the National Technical Review Panel
1. Justice M. N. Venkatachalaiah, Chairperson, Former Chief Justice of India, Former Chairman National Human Rights Commission, India
2. Dr. S. Krishnamurthy IPS (Retd.), Bangalore
3. Dr Indrajit Ray Professor of Forensic Medicine, Principal, Medical College, Kolkata and Chairman, Ethics Committee and Member, Post Graduate Medical Education Committee, Medical Council of India, New Delhi.
4. Dr T. D. Dogra Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
5. Mr P.G.Nadagouda, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Haveri District,
Karnataka
6. Dr. V. V. Pillay Chief, Poison Control Centre, Head, Analytical Toxicology & DNA Typing, Professor, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, Kerala
7. Dr.Pramod Bagali Senior Scientist (Forensic Medicine) & Director, Digital Autopsy Project, INFOVALLEY, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.
The Board of Governors, Medical Council of India dumped the suggestions of this expert panel in no time and constituted a new committee called “MCI Undergraduate Education Working Group 2010” as follows:
1. Prof. George Mathew, Principal & Professor in GI Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore. Convenor.
2. Prof. Nilima Kshirsagar, Ex-Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Mhasrul, Dindori Road, Nashik
3. Prof. J.M. Kaul, Director, Professor & Head, Department of Anatomy, Maulana Azad Medical College, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002.
4. Prof. Sandeep Guleria, Professor, Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110 029.
5. Prof. Sudha Salhan, Professor & Head, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 110 029.
6. Brig. Chander Mohan, SM Former Professor and Head, Dept. of Radiodiagnosis, Army Hospital (Research and Referral) New Delhi. Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Interventional Radiology, BLK Memorial Hospital, Pusa Road, New Delhi - 110005.
7. Prof. Payal Bansal, Associate Professor and Incharge, Department of Medical Education & Technology, MUHS Regional Centre, Pune 411 027.
8. Dr. S.Vasantha Kumar, Vice Principal and Professor and Head, Department of ObGyn, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Banashankari II Stage, Bangalore.
As per the above details this committee comprises of 2 surgeons, 3 Gynaecologists, 1 Anatomist, 1 Radiologist and 1 non medico person. What a pity that such a committee with not a single member from Forensic Field or Judiciary and not a single member has an experience of performing medicolegal autopsies or other medicolegal work, has decided to make forensic medicine subject optional. They think that this subject is no more important as far as the general public of India is concerned and can be removed from the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum.
The MCI was dissolved by Govt. Of India last year citing gross corruptions in the council and an ad-hoc body was appointed for a period of one year or till the constitution of the new MCI body whichever is earlier (as per the Gazette of Govt. of India). This ad-hoc body is creating havoc in the Indian Medical education scenario. An ad-hoc body is generally not empowered with taking policy decisions and if at all policy decisions are to be made there should be a prior approval of the Central Government. But it seems that even the Central Government is approving all the policies of the Board of Governors without any objections or discussions.
As per the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 an ad-hoc governing body should be replaced by a democratically elected council within a span of one year. Now when only 3-4 months are left for the completion of the tenure of the said ad-hoc body, no attempts are being made on the part of MCI or the Central Government to conduct the elections for constituting the council democratically. This clearly indicates the violation of The Indian Medical Council Act by the MCI and The Central Government both. Violation of such acts is hazardous for a democratic country like India.
A Case in the High Court of Judicature At Madras Dated: 16-02-2008 Coram The Honourable Mr.Justice S.Palanivelu Criminal Original Petition No.12582 Of 2007 needs a mention here. In this case the Honourable Madras High Court has directed the MCI in following words:
1) Directorate of Medical Sciences and Directorate of Medical Education with the concurrence of the State Government may contemplate imparting periodical training to the Medical Officers, who are in Government service, on Forensic Medicine, to make their efficiency updated in the field. A standardised format of noting down the injuries and their signs can be evolved so that a uniform procedure for issuing medical certificate be followed state wide. The said authorities may constitute a team of experts to prepare the format, so as to make the job of doctors, who perform medico-legal functions, easier.
2) Every doctor posted in any Government hospital may undergo a week's training in Forensic Science Department in the nearby Government Medical College periodically and the State Government may evolve a scheme in this regard.
3) The Government may provide sufficient infrastuctural facilities to the mortuaries and places where autopsies are conducted.
4) In certain cases, the internal organs extracted from the corpse by the Doctor at the time of necropsy have not been properly preserved, resulting the de-composition or dis-integration of the tissues by autolysis. When they are subjected to histopathological examination, desired result could not be secured leading to the loss of valuable evidence, which plays a crucial role in determination of the case by the Courts.
5) It is high time, the Governments, the Medical Council of India and the Medical Universities, which control the quality of medical education in this country, took serious view of this aspect and brought about appropriate measures.
6) Every student of medicine should get familiarised with the intricacies of Forensic Medicine apart from academic knowledge, right from his/her undergraduate level i.e., from the educational institution itself, after passing through the curriculum, prescribed for him/her.
7) To facilitate a better understanding of nuances of Forensic Medicine, the teaching of the subject may be taken up in the later part of the clinical years. In case of their having this subject in the early years of their study, they may not be in a position to know the importance of the principles applicable to the given circumstances. The students may read this subject for the purpose of getting through the examination, but the real involvement therein could not be expected.
8) During the internship, all the House Surgeons (Compulsory Rotating Resident Internees) may be compulsorily posted in the Department of Forensic Medicine for a reasonable period, for a better comprehension of the subject. This suggestion is made, viewing that the medical students would sufficiently be equipped at the later part of their studies and the niceties of the features in the subject would be appropriately appreciated by them.
9) It is bounden duty of the Government to produce Medical Experts in the educational institutions with a strong academic background, who would be fit for becoming members in the Health Delivery System and also for rendering yeoman services, to assist the Justice Delivery System, for which their exposure in the field of Forensic Medicine is indispensable.
10) The authorities concerned may initiate efforts to increase number of admissions to Post Graduate Course in Forensic Medicine and to get due recognition from Medical council of India, and ensure output of such experts cater to the needs to a greater extent.
The case highlights the hazards of a tutor (medical officer without any expertise in the subject) conducting shabby post-mortems. The MCI has neglected the directives of the Honourable Madras High Court. This indicates that the MCI has ceased to honour and respect the Indian Judiciary. Being an autonomous body the MCI can work on its own, under the boundaries of law. If such an apex governing body dumps court directives and works in favour of private institutions or persons then this will definitely lead to grave harm to the society.
Hence through this letter I hereby request you to look into the matter and direct the Board of Governors, Medical Council of India to stop messing with the medicolegal issues that are so much concerned with the general public and the Nation’s interest. And also consider the draft prepared by Honourable Chief justice of India M.N.Venkatachalaiah with due respect in framing the undergraduate Medical Curriculum for Forensic Medicine.
For your information I am enclosing herewith the “Restructured Medicolegal Curriculum for MBBS Course in India” by Honourable Chief Justice of India M. N. Venkatachalaiah and The Madras High Court CRIMINAL ORIGINAL PETITION No.12582 OF 2007 dated 16/02.2008.
Kindly do the needful.
Thanking You.
Yours Sincerely
Dr.M.B.Shrigiriwar
Associate Professor Dept. of FMT &
General Secretary Maharashtra State Medical
Teachers Association, IGGMC,
Nagpur (MS)
Nagpur
Date:
Enclosures:
1) The “Restructured Medicolegal Curriculum for MBBS Course in India” by Chief Justice M. N. Venkatachalaiah.
2) The Madras High Court CRIMINAL ORIGINAL PETITION No.12582 OF 2007 dated 16/02.2008.
Copy to:
1) Mr. M. N. Venkatachalaiah. by Honourable Ex. Chief Justice of India.
2) Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi.
3) Honourable Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.
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