Veterinarian Appointed for MBBS Role? High Court Demands Answers

The legality and appropriateness of the appointment have been challenged by medical and legal practitioners, saying that the abilities and qualifications of a veterinarian are very different from those of a medical practitioner in terms of human medicine. Now, the issue has entered the realm of law, with the High Court taking cognizance of the questions of legality and propriety of the appointment.

Controversial move

In an unprecedented development, the health department has allegedly appointed a veterinary doctor to a position calling for an MBBS in Gwalior. The appointment has faced scrutiny by doctors and lawyers, who argue that the skills and qualifications of veterinary doctors are far apart from those of human medical professionals. The whole matter has reached the court now, where the High Court shall couch and review the legality and propriety of the appointment.

Legal and medical professionals express their opinions.

The legal and medical professions have expressed serious concerns over allowing professionals from unrelated disciplines to fill specialized medical vacancies. According to the experts, veterinary medicine is a medical science, though one that has different approaches in practice to human health with respect to diagnosis, treatment procedures, and management of the patient.

Legal experts are questioning whether the appointment contravenes existing statutes and regulations governing recruitment, with many citing the clear need for transparency and adherence to medical staffing regulations. The matter has triggered a larger debate concerning systemic deficiencies within the healthcare recruitment process.

Implications for standards of health care

Health workers fear that uncontrolled such appointments will become detrimental to patient safety and will destroy public confidence in the health system. According to them, the appointment of professionals who do not have adequate humane medical training can lead to acts of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, thus endangering lives.

In a recent investigation in Hisar, Haryana, an unqualified doctor performed 44 eye surgeries, raising serious concerns about healthcare oversight and patient safety.

An investigation uncovered that more than 300 veterans were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries by unqualified doctors at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, violating VA policy and potentially compromising patient care.

For now, the controversy surrounding the appointment remains the point of discussion, with vigilant adverse scrutiny from the union of medical and legal professions on how the government makes its stand for the appointments.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal/MSM)