No.9-3/CCD/2007/ 15th May, 2008

To

1. Dr. P.C. Kesavankutty Nayar, Acting President, Medical  Council  of India, Pocket-14, Sector-8, Dwarka, Phase- I , New Delhi - 110 077

2. Dr. M. Abbas, National  President, Indian Medical Association, IMA House, Indraprastha Marg, New Delhi - 110 002

Subject:  Handling of children with disabilities and referral.

Sir,

1.  It has been brought to the notice of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities that though most of the doctors are not trained for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, they often try to treat their disabilities even when medical or surgical interventions are not required. In the process, most critical period of first six years of life is lost which is most important period to train & rehabilitate the child with disability to utilize the residual capacity of the impaired organs. Consequently, it is too late for such children to respond to the rehabilitation therapies even by most qualified & skilled rehabilitation professionals like physiotherapist, speech therapist, audiologist, prosthetic & orthotic engineer, special educator etc.

2. Chief   Commissioner   has   taken   notice   of   the   complaints     from    parents, Rehabilitation Professionals, NGOs etc. and has directed that appropriate instructions may be issued by Medical Council of India and Indian Medical Association through print and electronic media to the effect that the doctors not trained on rehabilitation should restrict their treatment of children with disabilities to their medical illness/disease or else action be initiated against such .practices under relevant section of MCI. They  should refer  such children to the qualified rehabilitation professionals to ensure that they get appropriate rehabilitation/therapeutic assistance well in time. The Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities shall be constrained to initiate action under Section 59  of  the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995  against  the  doctors  who  may  persist  with such practices.

3.  It is requested that action taken in the matter alongwith the copies of the directions issued may please be sent to this office within 30 days of receipt of this communication.

Yours faithfully,

(T.D.Dhariyal)

Dy.  Chief Commissioner

Sarojini House, 6, Bhagwan Dass Road, New Delhi - 110001 E-mail : [email protected]

Telephone: 23386054,  23386154; Telefax: 23386006, Website: www.ccdisabilities.nic.in