Date:01/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/01/stories/2007110161481000.htm

Tamil Nadu

Licences of doctor couple cancelled

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu State Medical Council on Wednesday cancelled the licences of a Manapparai doctor couple for violating medical ethics.

The Council was convinced that they allowed their untrained son to perform surgeries. The cancellation is valid for a year. Following this, the couple cannot practise for a year, when the cancellation will come up for review.

Dr. K. Murugesan and his wife Dr. Gandhimathi lost their licences after the Tamil Nadu State Medical Council found prima facie evidence of violation of medical ethics. Speaking to The Hindu from Salem, K. Prakasam, president, Tamil Nadu State Medical Council, said the complaint against the doctor couple had come in immediately after the incident came to light. Following this, the Council sent him a memo seeking an explanation, to which Dr. Murugesan replied.

The district administration, in the meanwhile, conducted an enquiry and prepared a report. The Medical Council sought for and procured a copy of the report and, based on that and media reports, officials thought that the doctors attracted cancellation of medical licence. This was followed up with a direct enquiry the Council president conducted with the doctor couple on Wednesday morning .

Said Dr. Prakasam: “It is clearly a violation of medical ethics to encourage and assist an unqualified person to perform medical procedures. As a statutory body, the Council is authorised to cancel the licences of medical practitioners who violate medical ethics.”

In June this year, the couple shot into the limelight after they showed a video of their 15-year old son performing a Caesarian section at a local Indian Medical Association programme. Dr. Murugesan had reportedly said that he was seeking a position in the Guinness World Records for his son as the youngest person to perform a surgery.