Medical body suspends three doctors

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), in December, suspended the membership of three doctors from Maharashtra, who were booked under the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of sex selection) (PCPNDT) Act for allegedly revealing the sex of unborn children.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), in December, suspended the membership of three doctors from Maharashtra, who were booked under the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of sex selection) (PCPNDT) Act for allegedly revealing the sex of unborn children.

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One of these, Dr Mohan Pharney from Islampur (Sangli district), was sentenced to two years in prison and fine of Rs34,000 in December. Two others, Dr Madhav Sanap from Beed and Dr Kirti Agarde from Kolhapur, were booked under the PCPNDT Act last year. The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) had suspended the registration of Dr Sanap and Dr Agarde, along with three other doctors who were booked under the PCPNDT Act, in December.

“We have suspended the membership of Dr Sanap, Dr Agarde and Dr Pharney,” said Dr Mohan Naik, president, IMC.

In November, two other doctors, Dr Mohan Nagney from Pune and Dr Sampada Shinde from Islampur were also convicted for carrying out illegal sex selection tests. Dr Nagney was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined Rs7,000. Dr Shinde was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and fined Rs4,000.

The MMC is awaiting papers to take a final decision on the convicted doctors. “If the doctor is found guilty for the first time, his name will be removed from the register for five years. If found guilty the second time, his name will be removed permanently,” said Dr SS Utture, executive council member, MMC.