While only local pathologists and path labs come under the purview of the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) rule, the MMC is now drafting a policy to bring clustered pathology labs that have mushroomed across the cities, under them. This will help the MMC to curb unethical practices in the clustered labs and take action against the guilty.
In the past six months, two local pathologists were punished by the MMC for indulging in unethical practices in path labs. According to the state's medical council authorities, they were signing on blank pages in advance and printing the reports on it later.
A team of eight members is in the committee are making the draft that will be presented before the government to amend the IMC Act. They will take at least more six months to come up with the final draft.
Speaking about unethical practices in pathology labs and the need to bring these clustered labs under the rule, Dr Shivkumar Utture, said, "Many a time, technicians do the test alone, which needs to be done under the supervision of doctors. We have punished at least two pathologists for signing blank report pages in advance. They have been suspended from work for six months. Four more pathologists are yet to be punished."
