NMC takes a U-turn, withdraws medical curriculum that labelled lesbianism as ‘sexual offence’

The revised forensic medicine curriculum had also re-introduced topics such as importance of hymen, definition of virginity and defloration, and its legitimacy and medico-legal importance

All these were done away with in 2022 by the National Medical Commission to make the curriculum LGBTQI+ friendly based on the recommendation of an expert committee constituted under the directions of the Madras High Court. (File Photo)

After uproar over re-introduction of regressive language in the forensic medicine module for undergraduate medical students, the apex medical education regulator has withdrawn its new curriculum in its entirety.

“The above guidelines will be revised and uploaded in due course,” an official notification states. This is significant considering the new MBBS session is likely to begin in October.

The Indian Express had reported that the revised forensic medicine curriculum brought back “sodomy and lesbianism” under the category of unnatural sexual offences. It also re-introduced topics such as importance of hymen, definition of virginity and defloration, and its legitimacy and medico-legal importance.

Must Read | Back in medical curriculum: Lesbianism as ‘sexual offence’, ‘importance’ of virginity

The revision in 2022 had made a clear distinction between consensual sex between queer individuals and offences such as incest and bestiality. Moreover, the module on virginity was to teach students how to apprise the courts about the unscientific basis of these tests if the court orders it.

Explained

Changes brought by NMC in 2022

The 2022 modifications were made on directions of the Madras High Court. They included removing sodomy and lesbianism from unnatural sexual offences, making a distinction between sexual fetishes such as voyeurism, exhibitionism, or masochism and mental disorders stemming from such atypical interests, and teaching that two-finger test for virginity is “unscientific, inhuman, and discriminatory”.

While changes made to the psychiatry module in the now-withdrawn curriculum does not mention better understanding of sex, gender identity and sexual orientation in detail, it did not slide back completely. It did not mention “gender identity disorder” like the previous curriculum did.

Disability rights activists also pointed out that the curriculum did away with the seven-hour training on disability as part of the foundation course for students. Neither did it include the topic as part of the ethics module. This, activists say, was a violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act that calls for inclusion of disability in the curriculum of universities, colleges and schools.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More