The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued new suggestions to maintain the credibility of doctors, stating that doctors should not use unusually large signboards. Apart from your name, qualification, title, specialty or registration number, nothing extra should be written on the signboard. It is also important to keep in mind that the things which are written on the signboard should also be on the prescription paper. Patients should know about the doctor transparently, making it easy for them to understand about the specialist.
The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC offers these suggestions in its e-book: “Professional Conduct Review – Lessons from Case Archives”. It says that it is also inappropriate to put up doctors' signboards at a chemist's shop or in places where they do not live or work.
Relationship between patients and doctors should be strengthened
The e-book also emphasizes that the relationship between patients and doctors should be strong. Lack of trust in the doctor-patient relationship leads to litigation against doctors, with the most common cause of complaints against doctors being lack of communication with patients. The Commission said that special care should be taken to ensure that the public is not misled in any way through signboards, visiting cards, announcements etc.
Not everyone should consider themselves an expert.
Doctors can acquire skills and training in a variety of medically related areas, but only those who have received training in their particular subject should have the right to write as a specialist. Dr. Yogendra Malik, member of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of NMC, said that the need for these suggestions is felt in view of the cases of complaints against doctors, but patients should also not complain on every issue.
(PC: Freepik)
