Unchecked rise of fake doctors in Delhi’: Plea in HC

The court was hearing a plea wherein the petitioners were aggrieved by the unchecked rise of fake medical practitioners across Delhi. The plea relies on news reports on “fake doctors scam” and states that the failure of the DMC and NMC in performing their statutory obligations of weeding out quack or fake doctors adversely impacts the healthcare system.

The court noted that the plea states there are doctors with only MBBS degrees who are projecting themselves as “fake specialists” and even carrying out surgeries.

The DMC and the NMC submitted that the petition was not filed with “clean hands” as it did not mention that certain litigation was pending between the authorities and some of the petitioners.

However, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that the details of the pending litigation had been placed on record.

While issuing a notice to the respondents, which also includes the Delhi government, the DMC and the NMC, the HC orally said, “We may be inclined to direct that verification can be done by a committee.” The plea is next listed on January 24, 2024.

The plea has been filed by five persons, including a minor boy who suffered a brain injury at birth due to “unqualified” doctors. It seeks setting up a high-powered committee consisting of retired judges and independent reputed members of society to monitor the process of verification of doctors’ qualifications to ensure the process of re-verification is done in a fair, ethical, and transparent manner.

“It is unfortunate that several victims have lost their lives before this fake doctor scam came to light. It is clear that the DMC and its officials are hand-in-glove with such fake doctors, as without their assistance, these fake doctors could not have been registered as doctors or continue to keep practising,” the plea states.

It also seeks direction to the authorities to make it mandatory for all licenced medical practitioners and clinical establishments to prominently display their complete credentials at a conspicuous place of practice.