Achi news desk-
A symbolic image
– Photo: Amar Ojala
expansion
In case of death due to wrong treatment, the government has provided separate punishment for quacks and licensed doctors. The Indian Jurisprudence Act, which will come into effect from July 1, includes a provision for tougher punishment against quacks compared to registered doctors. In the event of a patient’s death due to incorrect treatment, there is a provision of five years imprisonment for the trailer and two years imprisonment and a fine for the licensed doctor. Director General of Health Dr. Atul Goyal said in a letter to Chief Secretaries of State that in Section 106 of the Indian Judicial Code-2023, there is a provision of two years’ imprisonment and an appropriate fine against a registered doctor for death due to medical negligence. This penalty may increase to five years in cases where the accused are not registered doctors. Information about these rules must be provided to all healthcare workers.
Currently, under Section 304 of the IPC, there is a provision of two years maximum imprisonment and fine if a patient dies due to wrong treatment. The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) believes that quack practice is seen in every state. In Delhi itself, action was taken against 10 clinics in 2023. In 2023 itself, over the course of three months, 30 such hospitals were identified in Gurugram where 12 transit patients were treated and these hospitals were also on the panel of the insurance companies.
70% quacks in rural areas
According to a study in the medical journal BMJ, no national level survey has been conducted to estimate the number of quacks or unqualified doctors in India. However, surveys by medical organizations or NGOs at the regional level show that 70% of doctors in the regions of India do not have formal degrees.
