KMC against online medical consultation

The Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) has warned of initiating action against the hospitals or companies which resort to online medical consultation.

In its response to clarification sought by Dr Raghunatha Reddy, a Bengaluru-based medical practitioner, the KMC has described online medical consultation "unwanted procedure," and that the doctors must not take into such practice.

The KMC is responsible for ensuring compliance with code and conduct of the medical practitioners registered under the KMC Act.

"It is very much cardinal to state that the online consultations are unknown to the code of ethics for the reason that the doctor, who treats the patient, necessarily needs to the see the patient physically and treat the patient clinically, which will be missing in the process of online consultations. Further, online consultations may lead to so many complications which is nothing but playing with the life of the patient," the Council stated in its reply.

The Council has stated that though there had been technological advances, they were not appropriate for treating patients and further such practice was contrary to ethics.

While describing online medical consultation "vague" and "unclear," the Council has said that the doctor/s concerned would be held responsible if anything goes wrong with the patients due to such practice.