File affidavit on erring doctors, SC tells MCI

The court’s direction came on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Malay Ganguly complaining of large-scale medical negligence across the country and lack of any mechanism to deal with erring doctors. Additional Solicitor General Kirit Rawal, appearing for the MCI, told the court that he would seek instructions from his client and file the affidavit.

ENS adds: Reacting to the SC ruling, Maj. General S. P. Jhingan (Administrator, MCI), said: ‘‘I haven’t seen the court’s order. It would be highly improper to comment on it. The only thing I can say is that the state medical councils are autonomous institutions and they act on complaints independently.’’

Dr Sanjeev Mallik (Secretary, Indian Medical Association) said: ‘‘With due respect to the court, I maintain that complaints of negligence against doctors have to be examined by a professional body before any action can be taken against them.”