Medical Council catches fake sexologist in Delhi

Doctor without qualification takes patients for a ride

 The Delhi Medical Council has passed an order to suspend a doctor for six months after he was found putting fake degrees before his name.  The doctor also claimed to have been associated with government hospitals like RML, G B Pant and LNJP, though he could not produce any documents to support his claim.

“The Rohini-based doctor is registered with the council as a practitioner with an MBBS degree. He had fake degrees after his name, which said he held an MD and was a consultant sexologist. This is in violation to the Code of Professional Conduct,” said a member of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), requesting anonymity.

The doctor who is fit to be a general physician had the suffix of MD, PGDS (Sexual Medicine-America), consultant sexologist.

The doctor claimed to have obtained a degree in sexology from The Global Institute of Health Sciences. “This is not even a recognised qualification,” said the DMC member.

While a general physician can prescribe medicines for sexology, he cannot claim to be a specialist in the field.

“Under the regulations of the MCI, a doctor who claims to be a sexologist should have the documents to demonstrate his claim. Also, soliciting patients through advertisements is banned,” said Dr K K Aggarwal, member ethics committee, Medical Council of India (MCI).

The DMC passed the order after taking suo-motu cognisance of print advertisements in which the doctor claimed to have been a sexologist and found it to be false. The MCI had forwarded a complaint to the DMC regarding the nature of the advertisement.

“The advertisement dates back to October 12, 2013. The claims in the advertisement regarding the treatment of ailments which are sexual in nature appears to be in violation of Drug and Magic Remedies (Objectional Advertisements) Act. The MCI had also objected to the nature of the advertisement,” said the member.

The doctor was also practising crosspathy and dispensing medicines from his clinic. “He was dispensing ayurvedic medicines without having a degree in it,” said Dr Vinod Rana, who received several complaints from patients.

“It is easy to fool patients by posing as sexologists as people are reluctant to discuss this subject in public. Even if they do not benefit from their services, they hardly bring it to the notice of the authorities in fear of stigma,” said Dr Anil Bansal, chairperson, anti-quackery committee, Delhi Medical Association.