Medical fraternity on Twitter raises eyebrow over IMA keynote speaker on medical ethics

Taking to Twitter, several researchers and doctors not only tagged Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to take note of this, but also questioned the IMA’s standards.

“So, Apparently IMA today organised a National Conference on Medical Ethics. Look who is the key person featured!?! Plus, in true IMA fashion, the conference is largely a manel [sic],” tweeted Anant Bhan, a bioethics researcher.

So, apparently IMA today organized a National Conference on Medical Ethics.
Look who is the key person featured!?!
Is this supposed to be a joke?!
Plus, in true IMA fashion, the conference is largely a manel pic.twitter.com/AOciLSroA6

— Anant Bhan (@AnantBhan) August 21, 2022

ILS-Pune’s Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy Director Soumitra Pathare tweeted, “Feeling justified in never having joined the IMA. Not a member of the IPS (Indian Psychiatric Society too) [sic].”

Feeling justified in never having joined the IMA.
Not a member of the IPS (Indian Psychiatric Society) too. https://t.co/IbDqqwitJ3

— Soumitra 🌻 সৌমিত্র சௌமித்ரா سومترہ (@netshrink) August 21, 2022

While some said nothing much could be expected of the IMA, others even termed it an “absolute disgrace”.

Another health and policy expert from Karnataka, Prashanth NS, called this a nearly all-male IMA event with a platform granted to allegedly the most unethical former head of the association.

Calling it absurd, perverse, and shameful, he asked IMA if it sought a fair representation of doctors at the event.

A nearly all-male Indian Medical Association event with a platform granted to allegedly most unethical former head of the association…& wait the entire conference on medical ethics! Absurd, perverse and shameful

Do you seek any legitimacy & fair rep of Drs at all @IMAIndiaOrg? https://t.co/zjzC0gfP4r

— daktre/ಡಾಕ್ಟ್ರೇ (@prashanthns) August 21, 2022

While several had laugh-out-loud emojis on their posts, surgeon Sanjay Nagral, who is also a publisher of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics and works on transplant ethics and equity, said, “Modern medicine doctors of India many of whom have vacated space in this once glorious org to be usurped [sic].”

If it’s a joke it is on us. Modern medicine doctors of india many of whom have vacated space in this once glorious org to be usurped https://t.co/CnyqafNXJu

— sanjay nagral (@sanjaynagral) August 21, 2022

Meanwhile, some called it an “oxymoron”.

IMA invites former Indian Medical Council president facing corruption charges, draws ire from medical fraternity. (Supplied)

Dr Anant Bhan, who first tweeted about this, told South First, “It is surprising to see the IMA choose to feature an individual who was linked with corruption in medical education in a national conference on medical ethics it organised. There is a lot for the profession to reflect on with regard to mortality and ethics, and such choices do not show the IMA as a major professional association in any positive light.”

The IMA National Conference on Medical Ethics was held on Sunday.

Mehta, the chairperson, spoke on Ethics in Telemedicine – Treading into a new arena.

South First tried to contact IMA President Dr Sahajanand Prasad over this issue, but did not receive any response.