Conversion therapy to LGBTQ youth amounts to ‘professional misconduct’, NCM warns doctors of disciplinary acti – Times Now
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The regulatory body has also written to all the state medical councils asking them to take disciplinary action against doctors if they indulge in ‘conversion therapy.
Reports suggest that such a conversion therapy is banned in various countries but is being offered by medical professionals in India.
What is conversion therapy?
In colloquial language, such a therapy is called ‘gay cure therapy’. The therapy is aimed at falsely changing person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. However, the so-called therapy is discredited and banned in many countries for being unscientific. But it is offered in India and other countries, according to a report in Times of India.
NCM letter to state medical councils
On August, the NCM issued a letter to state medical councils empowering then to take action against errant doctors. The communication by NCM told state councils that the letter was being issued on the directions of Madras High Court. The NCM letter read, “In compliance of order July 8, 2022, Ethics and Medical Registration Board, National Medical Commission has decided that conversion therapy will constitute a professional misconduct under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct Etiquettes and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.”