Mumbai: Pathologists are urging the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to issue a notification against the practice of ‘renting out’ of signatures to laboratories without physically checking the medical reports of patients, along the lines of a notification issued by the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) last week. Dr. Prasad Kulkarni, member, Executive Council, Maharashtra Association of Practising Pathologists and Microbiologists (MAPPM) said the MMC notification would act as a deterrant.
Renting out signatures is common among pathologists who tie up with several laboratories, but are physically present at only a few of them. The practice is one of the reasons for wrong diagnosis and re-testing. “When we get information, we do complain about such doctors to the MMC. But if the MMC issues a notification, it will have a larger impact,” said Dr. Kulkarni.
Last year, three pathologists from the State were suspended for six months for renting out their signatures. The MAPPM and other associations have complained about at least a dozen more, but there hasn’t been much progress as the MMC, lacking quorum, is not fully functional.
In July, a senior pathologist in New Delhi was suspended for a year, the longest period for this form of misconduct. The doctor would get ₹2,500 per month for permitting the use of his scanned signature. The DMC termed it as ‘sale of signatures’, and issued a notification on August 6 that said, “No medical practitioner should sign any clinical, lab or radiological report, prescription, or any other professional document unless s/he is directly involved in conducting the test and preparing the report, prescription and certificate.”
It said the DMC has come to know that registered pathologists, microbiologists and biochemists have been found lending their signatures. “It is a flagrant violation of regulation 1.6 of the Indian Medical Council (professional conduct, etiquette, and ethics) Regulations 2002,” the notification said, adding the DMC will take disciplinary action against such doctors.
According to Dr. Kulkarni, patients should also use discretion. “They should confirm the availability of a qualified pathologist or microbiologist before submitting samples and while collecting reports. Doctors who refer patients for testing should also confirm availability of a pathologist in the laboratory.”
He said recently the MAPPM had exposed a city pathologist who was renting out his signature to laboratories in Jalna, Jalgaon and other parts of the State. “Ghost pathologists are preferred by laboratories as there are willing pathologists. This needs to stop,” said Dr. Kulkarni.