Recently, registered medical professionals who use social media for deceptive advertising, such as making erroneous and unethical claims regarding treatments for critical illnesses like cancer, have come under fire from the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). Patients who felt misled by doctors who advertised “guaranteed treatments” on various platforms filed these complaints, totaling seven. The MMC’s response highlights the growing apprehension over medical professionals’ moral usage of social media.
Social media can be an effective tool for doctors to debunk myths and offer accurate health information, but using these sites for commercial purposes is a major transgression of ethical medical procedures. While some physicians use social media to educate and inform the public, MMC authorities noted that some take advantage of it for self-promotion, frequently making exaggerated or unsupported claims, especially about the effectiveness of treatments for serious illnesses like cancer.
Such deceptive ads not only violate the Indian Medical Council’s Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics Regulations, 2002, but also seriously endanger patients, stressed Dr. Vinky Rughwani, the MMC’s administrator. By promising therapeutic outcomes that are not medically possible, these commercials frequently take advantage of weak individuals who have faith in their physicians. In particular, making claims of “100% guaranteed treatment” is regarded as unethical and a clear transgression of medical standards. He explained that although physicians are allowed to post information about their clinic’s location, hours of consultation, and other factual details online, it is illegal to use any kind of advertising that promotes success stories or makes inflated claims.
Furthermore, the growth of internet third-party networks that let doctors promote themselves has alarmed MMC officials. When utilized to promote false promises, these platforms—which may include success stories and testimonials—are seen as exploitative and immoral. The Council seeks to guarantee that consumers are not duped by deceptive advertising and that medical advice is consistently trustworthy and moral.
The significance of ethical standards in physician advertising was emphasized by Dr. Sanjay Patil, the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) national secretary-elect. Because it erodes the confidence that people have in medical practitioners, the IMA is against any advertisement that promises therapeutic outcomes. In order to preserve their professional integrity, Patil also expressed worries about the role of online aggregators and their effects on the healthcare industry, emphasizing the necessity for physicians to advertise their services on morally and legally acceptable platforms.
In summary, the MMC’s measures are part of a larger effort to safeguard patients from false medical claims and make sure that physicians follow moral guidelines when practicing and promoting their services.
SOURCE :
HINDUSTAN TIMES
