National
Dr KC seeks amendment to Criminal Code Act
Senior orthopedic surgeon at the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC has demanded the government amend the new Criminal Code Act.Senior orthopedic surgeon at the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC has demanded the government amend the new Criminal Code Act.
Expressing displeasure over the provisions in the Criminal Code that classify the doctors as criminal in case of death of a patient during the course of treatment, Dr KC said that the criminal code has not indicated any agency or yardstick to verify dishonesty or negligence in a patient’s treatment.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the ant-corruption crusader, who had staged a series of hunger strikes demanding reforms in medical education sector, opined that the number of patients referred by health posts and hospitals of remote districts will be increased.
Recalling that the health posts and primary health centers providing maternity services despite lacking operation theatres, Dr KC said the provision will force the health posts and primary health centers to refer the patients. He lamented that the new code will put the country’s health services at a peril.
He said the code should be amended in such a way that patients should be provided justice by carrying out investigation if doctors were found negligent in their work, and doctors and health workers should be encouraged to perform their work effectively.
Earlier on August 14, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) had taken a serious exception to the Criminal Code-2074, saying the law is against the agreement reached between the government and the umbrella body of Nepali doctors.They had also warned of halting their services and handing over medical licence to the council if the government did not amend the code.