Billboard in Thiruvananthapuram, treatment in Tamil Nadu; Malayalees easily getting duped?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Medical Council informed the Human Rights Commission about the decision to file a complaint under the Criminal Code against a Tamil Nadu doctor who put up a billboard in the capital announcing treatment for spinal diseases. The action is based on the order of Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas.

The advertisement of Gurupadam Clinic, Kappiyarai, Tamil Nadu, was erected at Chackai in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Medical Council found that the practitioner was not registered with the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Medical Councils. However, the Registrar informed the Commission that the Kerala Medical Council has the authority to take legal action only against unethical practices of doctors registered with the Kerala Medical Council and against fraudulent treatment being carried out in the state.

The registrar also informed that action cannot be taken since the institution mentioned in the complaint is in Tamil Nadu. The commission instructed the Medical Council on December 18, 2021, that if such an advertisement board is installed in Kerala and treatment is provided in Tamil Nadu, there is a possibility of Malayalees being cheated, and therefore, a criminal complaint should be filed.

The commission then sent a notice to the registrar. Based on the notice, the council registrar informed the commission that it had decided to file a criminal complaint against the practitioner under Section 42 of the Kerala State Medical Practitioners Act. Justice Alexander Thomas said in his order that it was surprising that they had to wait for five years to implement the 2021 order. The action was taken on a complaint filed by public activist K. Sreekumar.