Law, ethics and medical councils: evolution of their relationships.

In the past few years, Indian doctors have often been asked this question. In the present context of commercialised medical practice, there is a strong public feeling that doctors have become traders. Doctors, on the other hand, have reacted in a contradictory manner. Some have found the label ‘trader’ offensive and refuse to participate in any debate on the subject. Others have, at least implicitly, accepted that a large part of present day medical practice is nothing but trading by qualified as well as non-qualified medical technicians. Such doctors have, when cornered, attempted such defenses as, ‘We are a part of society. Since it is heavily commercialised, why blame us?’ The Indian professional can now lay claim to just two major characteristics: first, unlike a lay trader, the professional is highly educated, qualified and skilled; second, he does work for maximising income.