The Karnataka Medical Registration and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to penalise those intentionally insulting medical professionals directly or through social media.
Published Jul 29, 2024 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2024 | 11:00 AM
The Karnataka government has introduced a bill in the state Assembly to penalise “intentional insult” of healthcare professionals, including medical students and paramedics.
The Karnataka Medical Registration and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to penalise those intentionally insulting medical professionals directly or through social media, unauthorised audio, videos, or photographs related to their duties.
It covers registered medical practitioners, nurses, medical students, and paramedical staff. The bill, seeking punitive action against intentional insult, is reportedly the first in the country.
“Any person who commits any act in contravention of Section 3A shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with a fine which may extend to ₹10,000,” the bill said.
Section 3A of the bill specifically deals with intentional insult.
It defined “intentional insult” as using words, figures, or gestures to insult, humiliate, disgrace, annoy, or abuse healthcare personnel.
The Karnataka government had recently introduced a bill in the Assembly amending the Karnataka Medical Registration Act, 1961 (Karnataka Act 34 of 1961) and the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Medicare Service Personnel and Damage to Property in Medicare Service Institutions Act, 2009 (Karnataka Act 01 of 2009).
Additionally, the 2009 Act has been extended and amended to increase penalties for violence against healthcare personnel or damage to property in healthcare institutions.
The previous penalty under the 2009 act was imprisonment for a period of three years with a fine which may extend to ₹50,000.
This has been modified to “Any person who commits any act in contravention of Section 3 shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of not less than three years, which may extend up to seven years, and also with a fine which shall not be less than ₹25,000 and not more than ₹2 lakh.”
The new bill also mandates that the Medical Council Registrar maintain a dynamic online and physical list of medical practitioners, updated daily on the official website, and inform the National Medical Commission.
The bill stipulates that a certified copy of the published list shall serve as evidence in all courts and judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings, verifying that the individuals specified are registered according to the bill’s provisions.
Regarding penalties for quackery, the new bill proposed only fines without jail time: ₹10,000 for the first offense and ₹1 lakh for subsequent offenses.
“Whoever falsely pretends to be registered under this Act or, not being registered under this Act, uses in connection with their name or title any words or letters representing that they are so registered shall, whether any person is actually deceived by such pretense or representation or not, be punished in the case of a first conviction with a fine which may extend to ₹10,000 and, in the case of a subsequent conviction, with a fine which may extend to ₹1 lakh,” the bill said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
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