Exclusive hearing to fast-track sex determination cases

In a bid to fast track suspension of doctors found guilty doing sex determination tests, the Maharashtra medical Council (MMC) will have exclusive hearing of these cases from this year. Priyanka Vora reports.

In a bid to fast track suspension of doctors found guilty doing sex determination tests, the Maharashtra medical Council (MMC) will have exclusive hearing of these cases from this year.

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Over the past one year, the MMC has suspended around 21 doctors from the state for violating the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PC-PNDT) 2003 that deals with illegal sex determination.

"We will have special hearing of these cases, so there is no delay from our side when it comes to suspending erring doctors," said Dr Kishore Taori, MMC president.

According to the state health department, around 59 doctors in the state were found guilty of illegal sex determination and their details were sent to MMC to suspend their registration.

With only 21 doctors suspended till date and the remaining under process, the MMC has decided to skip the ethical committee discussions and directly hear these cases in their executive council meeting.

In accordance with the provisions under the MMC and the PC-PNDT Act, MMC is a quasi-judicial body that can take action against erring doctors provided a charge sheet has been filed against them.