PCPNDT Act: Convicted docs to be suspended

Revising the rules for erring gynaecologists and radiologists,the Bombay High Court has declared that any doctor convicted under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT) will be suspended from practising till his or her plea is heard and decided by an appellate court. Earlier,doctors would continue practising even after being held guilty by a lower court.

Justice S C Dharamadhikari issued an order directing the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to suspend licences of such doctors till their appeal is heard and decided by appellate courts and they are absolved of the charges. The high court has said if a doctor is convicted by a lower court for offences under the PCPNDT Act then the medical council should suspend his licence immediately and not wait to conduct an independent inquiry, advocate Amit Karkhanis said.

In case of conviction,a doctor’s name would be removed from Council for five years for the first offence and permanently for subsequent illegal acts.