MBBS Archives - DU Beat - Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper

The revised Competency-Based Medical Education(CBME) Guidelines recently issued by the National Medical Council(NMC) have re-categorised ‘Lesbianism’ and ‘Sodomy’, as ‘sexual offences’ and transvestism as sexual perversion at the head of other changes; doctors, disability rights and LGBTQIA+ rights activists have called for an immediate redressal and annulment of the same.

The New CBME guidelines issued for the MBBS curriculum, to be implemented in the 2024 term have attracted vast censure from the community of doctors and activists alike, given, what is claimed to be ‘regressive’, changes in the light of the previous revision by the NMC in 2022, in response to directives from the Madras High Court. Omissions done in the module then have been reintroduced, to wit, the recognition of ‘Lesbianism’ and ‘Sodomy’ as ‘sexual offences’ and the re-inclusion of transvestism in the category of ‘sexual perversions’ alongside fetishism, voyeurism, sadism, necrophagia, masochism, exhibitionism, frotteurism and necrophilia. It has notedly excluded the mandatory seven-hour competencies for disability, a part of the foundation course. Its medical ethics module has also discarded any topics on disability.

The 2022 modification had left ‘Lesbianism’ and ‘Sodomy’ out from under ‘unnatural sexual offences’ and asserted that the ‘two-finger test’ for virginity is strictly “unscientific”, endeavouring to train students to relay the same onto to courts which ordered it. The medico-legality of the hymen had also been de-emphasised, as was to have been in due course, given that the SC had ruled it out years back.

Changes to the psychiatry module significantly shifted focus onto the study of the spectrum of gender and sexuality, and aimed for the students to be educated on matters of sexuality, gender dysphoria, intersexuality and such topics to no longer be considered as “psychosexual and gender identity disorders”. The same module included detailed distinctions between the concepts of sex and gender, in order to sensitise students to topical and social issues that they might encounter whilst handling patients from diverse backgrounds and social realities.

The new curriculum has undone the changes it had made in the 2022 revision, without citing any reasons for the same. Topics such as the dated ideas of the ‘importance’ of virginity and defloration have been brought back, the psychiatry module has excluded all details regarding sexuality and gender identity, and no longer differentiates between ‘consensual sex between queer individuals’ and offences such as bestiality, incest and adultery. Attempts to contact authorities involved in the decision making process have yielded no results.

Transgender and Disability Rights activists have expressed thorough discontent with the revised curriculum and have voiced their intention to the appeal to the World Federation for Medical Education to take action in the event of NMC’s failure to do so.

Dr. Aqsa Shaikh, Professor of Community Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and transgender rights activist gave the following statement on the issue-

,“NMC had itself issued the new curriculum for forensic medicine and weeded out queerphobic content from the medical curriculum after being directed by Madras High Court. But in the latest edition of its guidelines, it still seems to be frozen in time in pre- 377 abrogation era and calling sexual acts like anal sex, oral sex as unnatural sexual offences, and adultery as crime and transvestism as a sexual fetish,” further adding that the change is reminiscent of the reversion to archaic ideals noted in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita(BNS).

Addressing concerns regarding the inadequate information on disabilities and surrounding issues in the 2024 curriculum, Dr. Satendra Singh, Director Professor of the Department of Physiology, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi, and prominent disability rights activist, said

“The MBBS curriculum for 2024 is a significant letdown in social responsibility. With great difficulty and judicial advocacy, we succeeded in including disability and LGBTQ rights in the new competency-based medical education curriculum.”

And further highlighted that the new CBME guidelines are in violation of the ‘Transgender Persons Protection Act 2019’, ‘Section 39 (2)(f) and Section 47 (1) (b) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’, both of the latter of which mandate the “inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the curriculum of universities, colleges and schools” and “the integration of disability as a component in all educational courses for university teachers, doctors, nurses, and paramedical personnel”, respectively, writes Bindu Shajan Perappadan .

Dr. Singh has filed for transparency concerning the decision-making process behind the 2024 revision of the curriculum under the Right To Information Act, as well as, with Dr. Sanjay Sharma from the Association of Transgender Health in India, written to the Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda, stating “We, therefore, appeal to you to use the influence of your high office to correct this wrong which not only directly impacts the interests of persons with disabilities, the transgender and gender-diverse individuals, persons with differences in sexual orientation and persons with differences in sex development, but also damages the image of our nation in the international fora.”

Featured Image Credits: Times Of India

Aayudh Pramanik

[email protected]

Keep Reading

Campus Central

Admissions and First Day at Maulana Azad Medical College

By DU Beat September 21, 2015

Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), the 2nd best medical college in Delhi after AIIMS doesn’t allow the medical aspirants to easily enter the arena of accomplishment. As rigorous as it sounds, students need to undergo spiral maze to reach this imperial college. To begin with, every student has to give All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT), an annual medical entrance examination. The exam is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for admission to MBBS course in several medical colleges across the country. Results are declared within a month following which a merit list is prepared for admission against seats under their control. The meritorious students are invited for counselling for the Delhi based medical colleges at the conference center of Delhi University (DU) where their documents are verified after which they are allotted seats for the preferred college according to the ranks. In MAMC 250 students are admitted annually. The distribution of seats is as per Delhi University Norms.

1. 15% of total seats are filled in through the entrance examination conducted by the C.B.S.E. on All India basis.

2. 85% of total seats are filled in through the Delhi University Norms.

3. 6 seats are reserved for Government of India nominees.

After allotment students need to visit MAMC along with the documents received from the DU and final strings of admission procedure are tied up with students receiving their provisional roll numbers and information booklets. The student is now a “Maulanian”.

Drowned in an ocean of inexpressible emotions, the journey which will take them to the title of doctor starts. What goes in the mind of an individual is a mixed nectar of enthusiasm, accomplishment, passion and a deep desire to learn. The first day is always the orientation day. It is a day when the students enter the era of independence, a day when they meet the other companions with whom they will slowly create deep bonds for life, a day when they will meet all the gurus who will shape their careers and probably the last day when they will be attentive during lectures.

MAMC is obviously a big brand and the first week is probably the time when people are most excited, so much so that a selfie with dissected upper limb, white coat, the M-gate and almost hundreds at each place can be found. Happy faces which include those of proud parents, seniors and juniors alike, also it is time for two events: hostel night and Goonj (the intra college fest).This journey is sure a long and hard one and pretty soon the week brings its share of grief and tears (obviously the crocodile tears of formalin). This may take some time but the students are also made to prick themselves and the first sight of blood may faint some.

Different kind of dimension can be experienced in the hostel. Every hostel room is a big stage with the an awesome audience which premiers late night movies, endless gossips and selfies, dancing sessions. Those so called PDP’ by seniors, discussion of the crushes, commitments of some and broken hearts of many, It is safe to say that everyone is lost in the zeal and zest of the new found facet of life.

All in all the first week embarks the most alluring and malleable period capable of metamorphosing a novice sailor to the veteran surfer.

Guest post by MAMC students

]]>

Keep Reading

Beyond the Obvious of Delhi University Colleges

Beyond the Obvious: Maulana Azad Medical College

By DU Beat September 17, 2015

One of the top ranked medical institutions of the country, Maulana Azad Medical College (abbreviated and often referred to as MAMC) straddles the historic old city of Delhi and has been in its full glory since its establishment in 1959. It is named after the great patriot and the first education minister of our country Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and ranks second after AIIMS, Delhi in producing doctors, specialists and super specialists.

The campus through its ‘M’ gate has a welcoming essence to it. The first time one walks through it, an overwhelming feeling is there with all the students rushing to their classes and canteens adorned in white coats with a stethoscope around their neck. This is a college of nerds with glass-rimmed spectacles, buried in their books as if they were their muse. Unlike what most other medical colleges are reputed to be, MAMC stands different, as neither the teachers nor the seniors are hostile towards the students.

Even the professors, who are usually perceived to be strict and grumpy, are actually pretty nice and student friendly. Lectures start at 8 in the morning with no delay. With the beginning of first year, also comes the first experience of Dissection Hall. The room has an eerie feeling associated with cadavers lying by your side and a scalpel held between your fingers. But as you go through your first year, eating and sleeping with human bones becomes a daily routine. You learn a hell a lot but only if you want to. No one forces you. After all it’s college!

Sadly for most, attendance is a big issue here. 75% is mandatory but if you are a hosteller, chances are you won’t miss lectures because the centrally airconditioned lecture theatres act as a big incentive for the nap lovers.

Ultimately, what we all come here for: the hospitals. MAMC has 5 hospitals associated with it- the major ones being Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital (LNJP or LNH), Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (GB PANT) and Guru Nanak Eye Centre. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) is the dental college with its separate hospital for the BDS and MDS aspiring students.

It is not just the merit of 250 students of a batch that puts MAMC where it is, but also the way curriculum is designed to ensure that students don’t deviate from their path. Weekly/ monthly topic finishing tests, stage exams, tutorials, semester exams, sent-ups become frustrating and rather boring. You eventually start to gulp down the fact that those school days of 90% are long gone and even fifty percent starts seeming to be a great deal. But this is all for the students to keep a steady pace with the syllabus that actually does run at the speed of light. Because at the end, when Annual Professional Examinations strike, you no longer function like a normal human.

MAMC with it’s new student constitution has different societies each for: drama Mrichkatakum for drama, Prodigy for dance, Confluence for music, Pravachya for Literature, Fine Arts and lastly Fashion or ‘Fash’. Adjacently placed is the play ground where boys are seen playing cricket and football during evening hours. Cricket lovers have MPL (Maulana Azad Premier league), where players are auctioned and sold and ultimately 8 teams of MAMC play against each other. Badminton and basketball have their own courts both in the OBH and OGH.

MAMC is neither short of stress nor stress- buster activities. The annual fest Synapse is not as great as what it used to be once upon a time. But it’s still a great experience in organizing and participating in the fest. If you are someone with the knack of doing something out of the box, you’ll have to take the initiative. Finding people here to support you is actually not that easy since most students have their heads buried in their textbooks. After 3rd year, even majority of the seniors refrain from co-curricular activities or atleast cut their leisure time for the sake of PG entrance. Still, creativity is always welcomed.

The college has many canteens that serve decent to good food. All of them have their specialties and sucky dishes and your taste buds figure them all out eventually. There are not too many lush gardens and grounds, only a few small cozy parks that turn a bit too cozy when the darkness strikes. If you know what I mean. Maulanaians often pride themselves with the prime location of their college. Be it the book fairs or auto expos at Pragati Maidan, or the sumptuous streets of Connaught Place, or even the monument of India Gate, nothing is more than a ten minute auto ride away from the college. The gates of the college open directly into the famous Khooni Darwaza, and the dream-come-true of all the cricket fans- The Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

Guest Post by MAMC Students

Image credits: dailymail.co.uk

Keep Reading