The Hindu : Quack's reign runs unabated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 02, 2002

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Quack's reign runs unabated

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI JUNE 1. There seems to be no cure for this one. Declared a quack in 2000, R.K. Gupta continues to have a thriving practice and even advertises his `expertise' in leading national dailies and television channels.

And if that is not disregard for the laws, his Neeraj Clinic offering `miracle cure for epilepsy' in Rishikesh promises "Rs. 200 as cash token of blessing from Dr. Gupta for new patients showing cutting of the advertisements.''

Why no regulator agencies has been able to stop him is something none of the officials have been able to answer. And comforted by the fact that nobody was ready to take him to task even though the laws are finally in place, Gupta's continues to dupe people in the holy city of Rishikesh.

Earlier taking note of the advertisement that the self proclaimed doctor had put in sometime in the year 2000 -- a three member delegation comprising of Dr. V.N. Sharma, Dr. S.P. Singh and Dr. J. Rao of Karnataka of Indian Medical Association (IMA) anti-quackery cell visited and checked the working of the so called epilepsy expert.

They declared Gupta a quack. It was found that he was using Ashoka emblem on his prescription pad without holding any government office from which he should be punished. According to the findings, he was not even a registered medical practioner.

Subsequently the State Health Minister, A.K. Walia, terminated the appointment of R.K. Gupta as Honorary Ayurveda Advisor for Epilepsy, in February 2000.

But Gupta seemed to be made of sterner stuff. After laying low for a while, he soon started putting in huge advertisements in national papers offering `steroid free cure for epilepsy.'

``When we got to know that the Gupta is a fraud, we immediately took action against him and ordered that his service be terminated as Honorary Ayurveda Advisor for Epilepsy, Delhi Government,'' said Dr. Walia.

``And if Gupta has started putting up advertisements again, we will discuss the matter with the concerned authority and see that he does not continue to cause harm to the general public. Governed by the Medical Code of Ethics no doctor is allowed to advertise,'' asserted Dr. Walia.

What is worrying the physicians is the double standard maintained by the Bharatiya Chikitsa Parishad (BCP), governing body of Ayurvedic practioners, which has served notices to small practioners but seems "to be too scared to touch Gupta.''

``If not the BCP, the Delhi Medical Council, can take action against Dr. Soni who is an allopathic doctor and whose name gets mentioned in the advertisement. The Delhi Medical Association officials had spoken to the DMC but they dismissed the matter saying that it was Rishikesh based organisation and that nothing could be done in the matter,'' says Dr. Anil Bansal, president (elected) Delhi Medical Association.

``Though it has been established that Gupta is a fraud, he continues to have good practice and carries on his publicity through various media. To evade the law he has now employed an allopathic doctor Dr. B.M. Soni (Lucknow) and an Ayurvedic doctor Dr. H.M. Tripathi to write out prescriptions,'' explains Dr. Anil Bansal.

But the tale of this self proclaimed miracle-cure provider does not end here. "The team of three doctors had found that Gupta had obtained his degree from an institute that had been closed down in 1978 for being unable to maintain the standards required. Gupta claims to have taken admission into the college that very year and passed out in 1985 having received the degree of B.A.M.S. He then went to Rishikesh and established Neeraj clinic,'' explains Dr. Bansal. Meanwhile the DMA is demanding immediate action against Gupta and are keeping their fingers crossed hoping that the common man does not fall prey to his tall claims.

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