The right of patients to file appeals against negligent doctors with the National Medical Commission (NMC) is now in question with the NMC rejecting a plea against an order of the Haryana State Medical Council.
The Ethical and Medical Registration Board of the commission issued the order on March 9. K.V. Babu, a Kannur-based public health activist, said that all the appeals filed since September 25, 2019, were reportedly being returned now.
The Clause 8.8 of the erstwhile Indian Medical Council Regulations on professional conduct, ethics and etiquette says that “Any person aggrieved by the decision of the State Medical Council (SMC) on any complaint against a delinquent physician shall have the right to file an appeal to the MCI within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of the order passed by the said medical council: Provided that the MCI may, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from presenting the appeal within the aforesaid period of 60 days, allow it to be presented within a further period of 60 days.”
