National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practioner (RMP) , Professional Conduct Regulations, 2023 official notification states that the doctors can now refuse to treat “abusive, unruly, and violent patients or relatives”.
In case of abusive, unruly, and violent patients or relatives, the RMP can document and report the behaviour and refuse to treat the patient. The doctor has the liberty to refer such patients for further treatment elsewhere.
These new regulations will replace the Medical Council of India’s (MCI) Code of Medical Ethics 2002. This is for the first time when doctors will have the right of refusal of patient treatment to the unruly and violent patients. The objective is to safeguard doctors & discourage violence against doctors.
However, “RMP is free to choose whom he will serve, except in case of a life-threatening emergency. Having accepted a case, the RMP should neither neglect the patient nor withdraw from the case without giving adequate notice to the patient and his family. If a change of RMP is needed, consent should be obtained from the patient himself or the guardian. The RMP who attends to the patient will be fully accountable for his actions and entitled to the appropriate fees,” the notification stated.
