ETHICS & MEDICAL REGISTRATION BOARD of National Medical Commission has recently invited comments from all stakeholders and the public on the issue of broadcasting of Live surgeries by private hospitals.

Its noteworthy that in the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1141/2023 before the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Rahil Chaudhary and others V/s Union of India and others, the Petitioner has held that many private hospitals are commercially exploring the patients and using them as models to fulfill their ulterior motives through live surgery broadcasts in conferences. Various companies are promoting themselves and make a fortune out of the miseries of the exploited patients. Advertising sponsorship and professional showmanship overshadow the true purpose of these broadcasts. Healthcare facilities showcase their capabilities, surgeons flaunt their skills and companies promote their products all at the expense of patient safety. Pre-recorded surgical videos, edited to meet educational needs can achieve the same objectives with far less risk. 

Also Read-

Jaipur to Host National Medicolegal Summit in April this Year

 In pursuance of the Petitioner's prayer it has been decided by NMC to constitute a Committee of experts to give recommendations on the issue of live surgeries broadcast by private hospitals in the country. In this regard all stakeholders and members of the public are invited to provide comments on the said issue of live surgery broadcast within the next 10 days, facilitating the committee in their pursuit of a balanced and informed decision-making process. 

Dr Rajesh Sharma, Director Gen Surgery Fortis Hospital Jaipur who has been part of such workshops in the past says that broadcaste of live surgeries must continue because whosoever is operating live is an experienced faculty & usually they are well trained enough & have experience of thousands of such procedures.Surgeons learn from live operative workshops & troubleshooting any issue that arises during any particular point.During such workshops patients identity is never disclosed.

Also Read-

NMC seeks Comments from the stakeholders on the National Exit Test Regulations 2023.

​​​​​When in other parts of the world people are are learning why can’t we, asks Dr Sharma.

If anything goes wrong live transmission is usually blocked.Patient care is always a top priority at any cost for the operator, organising team & attending surgeons, says Dr Sharma.

Dr Gaurav Aggarwal, Medicolegal expert and Lawyer says that the ethics involving the broadcast of live surgeries is like walking a tight rope. On the one hand one has the noble intention of educating hundreds or thousands of doctors through a single surgery, on the other the issues concerning patient exploitation are to be kept under a leash. This can rightly be observed under the strict observance of the NMC watchdog. In the interest of medical education and training, live surgeries or medical procedures should be allowed to happen with the strict control of the State Medical Council. A copy of the live video should be shared with the medical council, while maintaining patient confidentiality. Under no circumstances, the live procedure should be transmitted on social media lest it is misused. The list of rules to observe, but not be limited to- informed consent separately for the live telecast, adequate compensation to patient, availability of back-up surgeons and paramedical staff, adequate back-up equipment including oxygen and life-saving equipment, separate insurance for the live broadcast (both for doctors/hospital and patient), accredited hospital or teaching hospital, formal assessment of learners after the procedure(as per NMC standard), adequate post-op care, to name a few. It is a no-brainer that advantages include saving on costs and decreasing burden of finding patients for live demonstration of surgeries in the interest of continuing professional development (CPD) activities. Come to think of it, when MBBS or MS(surgical branches) students watch demonstrations of surgeries in operation theaters (as part of their NMC-mandated curriculum) it is also live surgeries that they witness for hands-on training. So, why the fuss about a live demonstration of surgery as part of CPD activity? After all the surgeries shall be undertaken in a hospital, not in a hotel where the a CPD is to be conducted,adds Dr Gaurav.

Prof Sarvesh Jain, from Bundelkhand  Medical College Sagar,Madhya Pradesh says that broadcaste of live surgeries is always meant for learning skills and it must continue because any live broadcasting never alters the course of treatment.Patients safety is always taken care of during live surgeries.