Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Medical Council (KSMC) decided to lodge a criminal complaint against a person allegedly practising spine-related treatment in Tamil Nadu after advertising himself as a ‘spine specialist’ in the state capital without possessing registration.The action follows the intervention of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and an order issued by its chairperson, Justice Alexander Thomas.The individual erected a billboard at Chacka in Thiruvananthapuram advertising treatment for spinal ailments under the name “Gurupadam Clinic, Karinkal, Tamil Nadu”, describing himself as a spine specialist.An inquiry by KSMC found that the practitioner was not registered with either KSMC or Tamil Nadu Medical Council. However, the council informed the commission that its powers are limited to initiating action against unethical practices by doctors registered in Kerala and against instances of quackery taking place within the state. Since the clinic mentioned in the complaint is in Tamil Nadu, the council initially maintained that it could not proceed against the establishment.SHRC observed that advertisements displayed in Kerala for treatment provided in Tamil Nadu could mislead and exploit Malayali patients and directed the medical council on Dec 18, 2021, to file a criminal complaint. The commission noted that the practitioner also used the title ‘Doctor’ in advertisements despite lacking registration.As the council failed to implement the order, the commission issued a notice to the registrar. Following the notice, the registrar informed the commission that a decision had been taken to file a criminal complaint under Section 42 of Kerala State Medical Practitioners Act.Thomas expressed surprise that it took nearly five years to implement the commission’s 2021 directive. The proceedings were initiated on a complaint filed by public activist K Sreekumar.
