Surgeons in the city feel that broadcast of live surgeries in hospitals is very much necessary for both medical students and doctors to get themselves updated with regular changes in the field of surgical procedures. The surgeons, reacting to the recent notice issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC), said that private hospitals should be careful about three major issues like safety and confidentiality of patients and medical ethics before broadcasting live surgeries to reach out to larger audience.

The NMC on 25 January has sought opinions from public and stakeholders on live broadcast of surgical procedures on patients by private hospitals within 10 days. The commission has also formed a committee of experts to give recommendations in this regard. The NMC has also referred to a writ petition before the Supreme Court in which the petitioner held that many private hospitals are commercially exploiting the patients and using them as models to fulfil their ulterior motives through live surgeries broadcast in conferences. Various companies are promoting themselves and make a fortune out of the miseries of the exploited patients.

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Advertising sponsorship and professional showmanship overshadow the true purpose of these broadcasts. “Healthcare facilities showcase their capabilities, surgeons flaunt their skills and companies promote their products all at the expense of patient safety,” the public notice said. “We think live broadcast of surgical procedures is necessary for both medical students and doctors to keep themselves updated with regular changing developments in the field of different surgeries.

In medical colleges students sitting in the audience can witness demonstrations on surgical procedures performed by their senior teachers in the operation theatres (OTs),” said Prof (Dr) Tamonash Chowdhury, vice-president of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), Bengal chapter, and secretary of the College of Minimal Access Surgery. “Live surgeries help exchange medical expertise among medical professionals.

For instance, we doctors and medical students sitting in a conference hall at a hospital can watch a live surgical process taking place elsewhere. So, there is nothing wrong with live broadcasting. But, I think safety and confidentiality of patients and medical ethics must be taken into account by the concerned hospital before any live broadcast,” Prof Chowdhury felt.

Dr Kunal Sarkar, cardio-thoracic surgeon attached with a premier private hospital, was not available for comment. In 2006, televised surgeries at the state-run Medical College Hospital (MCH) had gone fatal with deaths of two patients within half an hour of the procedures. Last October, the Supreme Court had sought responses from the Centre and others on the plea raising legal and ethical questions over live broadcast of surgical procedures, with the petitioners likening it to Virat Kohli batting and commentating at the same time. The bench had said it will leave the issue to be considered by the NMC