Posted By :  Admin1

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) have joined forces to equip doctors with crucial skills and expertise in managing medico-legal issues effectively. MMC, functioning as a quasi-judicial body responsible for overseeing medical education and ethics in the state, has observed an increasing need from its members for guidance in handling medico-legal cases, especially concerning allegations of misconduct and patient appeals against registered medical practitioners. Dr. Vinky Rughwani, administrator of MMC, announced the launch of a workshop in collaboration with the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of NMC, scheduled for Saturday. The workshop will feature distinguished speakers and trainers from the medico-legal field, offering interactive sessions, case studies, and practical exercises to provide participants with a hands-on learning experience. Medical colleges and district hospitals across Maharashtra will send representatives to attend the workshop, aimed at training doctors from various institutions, including private practitioners, on handling legal cases, understanding complaints, and addressing issues of medical negligence. 

The Council oversees approximately 1.8 lakh registered doctors, with around 9,000 new registrations annually. Dr. Rughwani highlighted that one of MMC's key functions is to adjudicate cases and complaints against registered medical practitioners, ensuring a fair process by hearing from both parties—the doctor and the complainant—before determining any instances of medical negligence. Dr. Rughwani emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in strengthening the healthcare system's ability to address misconduct and appeal cases with thoroughness and integrity. Additionally, MMC has committed to expediting the resolution of 692 pending cases, including those involving medical negligence complaints, by enlisting the expertise of medical specialists in relevant fields. Dr. Rughwani outlined plans to hold weekly hearings to address the backlog, with specialists assisting in reviewing complaints related to specific medical disciplines, such as gynaecology, to ensure a comprehensive and timely resolution.