Order on med labs ‘unethical’

Teachers criticise MCI order on signing lab reports

The National MSc Medical Teachers Association has dubbed as “unethical” the decision of the Medical Council of India that all laboratory reports must be signed by persons registered with the MCI or the State Medical Council. The association wants the government to withdraw the notification.

The MCI had told the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories in the first week of July that only doctors with MBBS degrees and those who have done MD in pathology, biochemistry and microbiology can certify laboratory reports.

It said those with MSc or PhD in applied sciences, life sciences, medical microbiology, medical biochemistry, cytogenetics and biotechnology cannot certify the reports.

The teachers association said the practice worldwide was for biomedical scientists to sign laboratory reports.

It said Document 112 of NABL provides authorised signatory roles for medical MSc degree holders.

An association member said, “In 2005, MCI had approved the decision of the ethics committee and allowed MSc. graduates in medical and biochemistry with or without PhD to sign clinical laboratory reports. What has changed now?”

Association secretary Arjun Maitra said, “While the MCI’s letter was in the context of NABL accredited laboratories, it is having a farreaching and unintended effect as it is being misconstrued as MCI’s order to all diagnostic laboratories. This recommendation is being used to evict biomedical scientists from laboratories attached to medical colleges.”

According to estimates, about 80 per cent of laboratory reports are certified by science graduates and PhDs.

Association president Dr Sridhar Rao said, “Our country has a shortage in the number of doctors treating patients. Instead, the MCI now wants them to sign on medical reports. It is very unethical of MCI to overrule the recommendations of the ethics committee.”