“Four such cases of professional misconduct by doctors were registered at the commission last year. But we know that only few of such cases are brought to us,” said Monha Ansari, spokesperson at the commission. [break]
“We feel that there is a need of separate law to deal with such cases. In fact, a lot of women share with us disgusting stories about doctors but not all of them are willing to lodge formal complaints.”
Once, a husband and wife came to the commission´s office and asked Ansari to talk to them in private. The couple wanted to lodge a complaint against a doctor but was equally worried the bad publicity it would bring.
"The doctor had shot some photographs of the lady when she was admitted at the hospital,” said Ansari. “In the end, they reached a conclusion that it would be wiser settle the issue by receiving compensation from the doctor.”
In another case, a doctor filmed a woman delivering a baby and made its MMS. According to Ansari, the matter was resolved after high government officials, including an undersecretary, intervened.
The victims wanted to file a case against the doctor but his high political connections helped to push the matter under the carpet.
Ansari added that the commission has not been able to support the victims in absence of clear laws against hospitals, clinics or doctors involved in illegal activities. Moreover, the victims are more likely to back away from filing a case fearing the stigma attached to such controversies. Surfing the pages of a book on medical ethics, Ansari maintained that there is a lack of clear provisions against the doctors who molest, abuse or make videos of female patients.
Human rights activist and senior advocate Meera Dhungana stressed that it is not difficult to punish the doctors even under the existing laws. “If it can be established that they have breached their professional ethics, action can be taken against such doctors and their license can be forfeited,” Dhungana said. “Electronic Transaction Act 2008 enables victims to file case against the doctors if they are found making or circulating their MMS.”
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