A recent clarification from the National Medical Commission (NMC) has explicitly stated that registered medical practitioners cannot authenticate pathology and radiology reports remotely. This clarification was obtained in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application made by Dr. Rohit Jain.
RTI Application
Dr. Rohit Jain, an RTI activist and pathologist based in Jaipur, filed the RTI application seeking clarity on this issue. He noted that many doctors using cloud-based software for telepathology and teleradiology might be unaware of the regulatory restrictions.
The NMC’s Stance
His RTI specifically asked “Does Telemedicine Practice guidelines 2020 allow a Registered Medical Practitioner to sign Pathology and Radiology lab reports via remote authentication without physical presence and supervision?”
NMC’s answer in the negative unequivocally stated that,
“The (telemedicine) guidelines do not address the use of telemedicine for remotely operated invasive or surgical procedures”
The NMC, in response to the RTI application, has clarified that the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020 do not allow remote authentication of pathology and radiology reports by registered medical practitioners. This means doctors cannot legally sign lab reports without their physical presence and supervision. The NMC also reiterated that telemedicine does not extend to remotely operated invasive or surgical procedures.
Ethical and Legal Concerns
The growing trend of remote report authentication has raised ethical and legal concerns. While technology allows doctors to review and sign reports from afar, the NMC’s clarification stresses on the importance of physical presence, especially when clinical correlation is necessary.
Contradiction and Implications
The NMC’s clarification has significant implications for laboratories, diagnostic centers, and doctors who have adopted remote authentication practices. This reaffirms that remote authentication of lab reports without a doctor’s direct supervision is not permitted under existing regulations. It raises questions about the future of telepathology and teleradiology and the broader integration of AI in healthcare.
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