Doctors are bound to follow professional norms: Health Ministry in Rajya Sabha

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that doctors are to follow specific professional guidelines as described in the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
Replying to a series of questions from Member of Parliament Kartikeya Sharma in the Upper House, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Bharti Pravin Pawar, said in a written submission that the Medical Council has the right to take appropriate disciplinary action for professional misconduct. “Upon receipt of any complaint of professional misconduct, the appropriate Medical Council would hold an enquiry and give opportunity to the registered medical practitioner to be heard in person or by pleader.”
“If the medical practitioner is found to be guilty of committing professional misconduct, the appropriate medical council may award such punishment as deemed necessary or may direct the removal altogether or for a specified period of time from the register of the name of the delinquent registered practitioner. Deletion from the Register shall be widely publicised in the local press and various medical publications,” he added. 
On a question from Kartikeya Sharma about whether the government has noticed that a small section of physicians are keen to prescribe a large number of unwanted medicines, the minister said that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.