The Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) recently condemned the use of apps that promote online consultations and is of the opinion that they must be completely banned.
Going to a doctor for a consultation these days can take anything between 30mins to 1.5 hrs. With the advancement in technology and digitization of healthcare, there are a host of apps available today that allow patients to consult with their doctors digitally, without actually making an in-person visit.
But, a significant part of the medical fraternity, including the KMC believe that online consultations violate the code of ethics of medical practice. These ethics in question are actually referring to the MCI code of ethics Regulations, 2002 which mentions that ‘soliciting of patients directly or indirectly, by a physician, by a group of physicians or by institutions or organizations is unethical’. The IMA sought clarity on this particular guideline in August last year.
This issue had come to light and has been widely discussed since, due to a telephonic consultation case which went into criminal prosecution based on the high court verdict.
There are many reasons sighted by doctors who are against online consultations, primary ones being the safety of the patient and the effectiveness of treatments provided after an online consultation. A doctor’s consultation must involve detailed history taking and physical examination of the patient, followed by an appropriate treatment plan and medications.
However, in the case of online consultations, the doctor’s diagnosis is based on the symptoms provided by the patient alone. This is very risky as it can cause misdiagnosis and can lead to complications that can amount to medical negligence. Also, there are no guidelines or rules that are governing online healthcare consultations.
Though digitization of healthcare is a boon, where are we heading with online consultations and prescriptions?
