MEDLAWCON 2025: Bridging Medicine And Law
LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK
15 Jan 2025 12:04 PM
The GNLU Centre for Healthcare, Ethics, Legal Advocacy, and Policy Research (G-HELP), established in September 2024, has successfully launched its 3rd batch of the PG Diploma in Medical Law, Policy, and Ethics in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Gujarat Chapter. G-HELP organized the second edition of MEDLAWCON 2025, which brought together prominent legal experts, medical professionals, and policymakers to discuss critical issues in India's medico-legal landscape.
The event's inaugural session on 11th January 2025 was attended by Justice Ilesh Vohra as Chief Guest, along with Dr. Alexandar Thomas and Dr. Mehul Shah as Distinguished Guests.
In his welcome address, Prof. (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar, Director of GNLU, emphasized the powerful synergy between the medical and legal professions, their shared mission to protect human dignity and integrity.
Dr. Mehul Shah highlighted the interconnectedness of medicine, law, ethics, and policy. Quoting Justice Vohra, he encouraged healthcare professionals to exhibit bold leadership, likening their role to that of a lion in the field of medicine. Dr. Alexandar Thomas elaborated on the impact of legal frameworks like the Consumer Protection Act on healthcare, the global issue of healthcare violence, and the need for legal protections for medical professionals. He also suggested incorporating Lifestyle Medicine into medical education and proposed collaborative research on healthcare and climate change with GNLU.
In his keynote address, Justice Ilesh Vohra emphasized the importance of legal knowledge in medical practice, particularly regarding negligence, consent, and transparency. He referred to the Jacob Matthew v. State of Punjab case as the cornerstone of medical negligence law, urging healthcare professionals to stay committed to their responsibilities despite legal challenges.
Panel Discussions and Sessions
MEDLAWCON 2025 featured several expert panels addressing key topics:
1. Decoding the Draft NMC Guidelines: Experts explored changes in the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, emphasizing telemedicine, pharmaceutical regulations, and ethical considerations.
2. Medical Negligence: Discussions clarified the legal implications of medical and criminal negligence, referencing landmark judgments.
3. End-of-Life Care: This session delved into euthanasia, Supreme Court judgments, and the legal challenges surrounding terminal care.
The second day featured discussions on:
1. Privacy in the Digital Era: Experts analyzed the implications of the DPDP Act on healthcare, focusing on data encryption and balancing regulation with innovation.
2. Workplace Safety in Healthcare: Panellists discussed policies to address violence and harassment in healthcare settings, stressing the need for increased manpower.
3. Medical Records Management: The importance of accurate documentation, legal compliance, and ethical considerations in maintaining medical records was explored.
The conference concluded with a session on the ethical and legal obligations of healthcare organizations, led by Dr. Milind Antani, who emphasized balancing compliance with ethical practice.
With over 110 participants and 102 presenters from diverse fields, MEDLAWCON 2025 fostered meaningful dialogues on advancing healthcare through legal and ethical frameworks.