Sri Lanka Medical Council

1. Sri Lanka Medical Council Dr. Ravi Nanayakkara

2. ADDRESS OF THE SRI LANKA MEDICAL COUNCIL • SLMC Office. 31, Norris Canal Road , Colombo 10. • Tel:- 2691848  Fax :- 2674787 E-mail : slmc@lankabellnet.com • www.srilankamedicalcouncil.org • www.slmedc.lk

3. Logo of SLMC

4. OBJECTIVES • Describe the organizational structure • Describe the powers and duties • Discuss the types of disciplinary procedure that can be taken by the SLMC.

5. SLMC “The Sri Lanka Medical Council shall be a body corporate by the name and style of “The Sri Lanka Medical Council” having perpetual succession, and a common seal with power to sue and be sued in such name and to acquire and hold property…….” - Medical Ordinance (Section 12)

6. The SRI LANKA MEDICAL COUNCIL is a statutory body established for the purpose of protecting health care seekers by ensuring the maintenance of academic and professional standards, discipline and ethical practice by health professionals who are registered with it. As presently constituted the Council has representation from medical faculties of the state universities as well as from professionals in the state and private sector. It is a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal.

7. History The Colombo Medical College was declared open on 1st June 1870 and the diploma of the college, Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery (L.M.S.) was registrable with the General Medical Council (U.K.) without further examinations.

8. Since 1905 registration of Medical Practitioners was done by the Ceylon Medical College Council.

9. The Ceylon Medical Council (CMC) was established by the Medical Council Ordinance No. 24 of 1924

10. The “Sri Lanka Medical Council” was established by the Medical (Amendment) Act No. 40 of 1998 when the title was substituted for the “Ceylon Medical Council”.

11. Powers of Ceylon Medical College Council • Confer the diploma L.M.S (Ceylon) • Register persons who had L.M.S. (Ceylon) • Register persons with other degrees and diplomas awarded by countries which recognized the L.M.S. (Ceylon).

12. Establishment of SLMC In 1924 the functions of the Ceylon Medical College Council was separated for training of personnel and a Council for Registration was established. Ceylon Medical Council 1924 Sri Lanka Medical council 1998

13. Need of SLMC The need for a Medical Council in Ceylon/ Sri Lanka followed the practice in U.K., Australia and Canada. The General Medical Council (G.M.C.) was established by the Medical Act in 1858.

14. SLMC….. • In 1927 – registration of Pharmacists, which included Apothecaries and Estate Apothecaries. • 1949 – Nurses were registered • 1987 – Registration of Para-medical assistants • 1998 - Professions supplementary to medicine

15. Powers of the Council The Medical (Amendment) Act No. 30 of 1987 makes provision for the Council to enter and make inquiries at recognized universities and institutions to ascertain whether the courses of study, the degree of proficiency at examinations conducted for conferment of qualifications and staff, equipment and facilities provided at such universities and institutions conform to prescribed standards. If they fail to conform to prescribed standards, the council may recommend to the Minister to withdraw such recognition.

16. Activities or Functions of the SLMC • Maintenance of Registers i. Medical Practitioners: • Provisional Registration for internship • Registration as Medical Practitioners (Full Registration) • Temporary Registration – for persons employed as Medical Officers ii. Dentists iii. Persons entitled to practice medicine and surgery (Apothecaries/ Assistant Medical practitioners)

17. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd… iv. Midwives v. Pharmacists vi. Nurses vii. Professions Supplementary to Medicine • Radiographers • Medical Laboratory Technicians • Physiotherapists • Occupational Therapists

18. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd… vii. Para-Medical Assistants • Electrocardiograph Recordists • Audiologists • Clinical Physiologists • Speech Therapists • Chiropodists • Dieticians • Ophthalmic Auxiliaries • Electroencephalograph recordists • Nutritionists • Clinical Psychologists

19. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd… • Change of Name in the Register • Registration of Additional Qualifications • Issue of a Certified Extract from the Register • Restoration of name in a register • Replying to inquiries regarding registration • Issue of Identity Cards • Registration of Apprentice Pharmacists

20. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd… • Maintain the standards of medical education -visit medical schools to supervise the standards • Approval of Degrees of Foreign Medical & Dental Graduates • Conducting the Special Exam for Foreign Medical & Dental Graduates for local registration • Issue of certificate of completion of Special Exam • Advice the Government on certain health matters

21. Activities or Functions of the SLMCcontd… • Inquiry into complaints against registered persons • Renewal of Registration • Maintenance of Council Accounts

22. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd… • Issuing Guidelines to registered persons i. Ethical Guidelines to Medical Practitioners & Dentists ii. Guidelines to Interns iii. Writing Medical & Death Certificates iv. Guidelines on Assisted Reproductive Technologies

23. Composition of the SLMC President – Nominated by the Minister of Health 1 One member elected by teachers of each faculty of medicine 6 Eight members elected by medical practitioners registered under 8 Section 29 One member elected by persons entitled to practice medicine & surgery under Section 41 (Apothecaries/A.M.Ps) 1 One member elected by Dentist registered under Section 43 1 One member elected by teachers of each faculty of dental sciences 1 Four members nominated by the Minister of Health, at least two of whom should not be receiving a Government salary or pension 4 The Director General of Health Services 1

24. Disciplinary proceedings • When a petition made against a doctor or courts report a case Two committee levels 1. Preliminary Proceeding Committee(PPC) Five members- Vice President(Chairman) 2.Professional Conduct Committee(PCC) Eleven members- President(Chairman)

25. Disciplinary proceedings • PPC will inquire any complaint referred to the president and decides whether the case should be referred to PCC • PCC conducts extensive inquiry on the cases The parties can represent through lawyers Warned to erasure of the name

26. The procedure for disciplinary inquiries currently applicable was published in the Government Gazette No. 757/7 of March 10, 1993.

27. Reasons for erasure • When registration obtained without qualification • Conviction of an offence (criminal) • Failure to reply letters (renewal of registration) • Professional negligence • Submitting false medical certificates • Abuse of doctors privileges- addiction, sale of additive drugs, breach of professional secrecy

28. Reasons for erasure cntd.. • Association with unqualified persons • Abortion (esp. deaths) • Adultery • Alcoholism

29. Registration as a doctor • Procedure for the full registration Hold a recognized medical degree Foreign graduates–passed special exam Completion the internship period

30. Rights and privileges of provisional registration • Can be only employed in government hospital • Can issue medical certificates under the name of the institution/consultant • Can use the tile of doctor • Can recover an allowance (No salary)

31. Rights and privileges of full registration • Can practice medicine and surgery in Sri Lanka • Can demand and recover reasonable charges • Issue medical certificates under the name • Use title of doctor • Qualified to sign certain documents (Banks, passport applications ,etc…) • Expert in the field in courts (Diseases, injuries) • Can store, prescribe narcotics

32. Temporary registration • To practice in a specific institution or private hospital • Specific discipline of medicine • Limited to a specific period

33. Hippocratic Oath • "I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius and Health, and all-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation-to reckon him who taught this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this Art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture or every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to non other. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patients and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art.

34. I will not cut persons labouring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and further, from seduction of females or males of freeman or slaves. Whatever in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken abroad, I will not divulge as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I keep this Oath inviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the Art, respected by all men, in all times. But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be by lot." • A modem restatement of the Hippocratic oath, known as the International Code of Medical Ethics or the Declaration of Geneva was produced by the World Medical Association. It reads as follows: • At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession:

35. I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of • Humanity; I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due; I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity; The health of my patients will be my first consideration; I will respect the secrets which are confided in me, even after the patient has died; I will maintain by all the means of my power, the honour and noble tradition of the medical profession; My colleagues will be my brothers; I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patients; I will maintain the utmost respect for human life from the time of conception; even under threat, I will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity. I make these promises, solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

36. Thank you