Taking strict action against bogus doctors in the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has registered a police complaint against Dhanasing Choudhari for practicing without the mandatory credentials.
The decision to file the complaint was taken after an activist brought it to the notice of the committee set up specifically to curb the menace of bogus doctors in the city. The complaint states that Choudhari is not registered with any medical council and is using the prefix ‘doctor’.u00a0
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After the recent committee meeting, it was decided to take action against the accused. Choudhary, however, denies the allegation and is saying that he is liable to add ‘Dr’ to his name as per a High Court order in another case.
PMC had filled a complaint last Friday with Deccan police station. The complaint states that Dhanasing Choudhari is not registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) but uses the prefix doctor before his name. Considering his non-registration, he is a bogus doctor.
Activist Ganesh Borhade, who had complained about Choudhari to the civic body, said, “Dhanasing Choudhari does not have MMC registration and he is using a doctor prefix.
As per the documents available with me, Choudhari has done a certificate course in naturopathy from Nature Care Institute in Nashik, and has a diploma in clinical hypnosis from some institute in Kerala.
According to the government resolution, which states that only medical practitioners registered with the medical councils should get a diploma in hypnosis, how does Choudhari have the diploma? Clearly, he is just playing with people’s emotions and health.” u00a0Borhade also stated that police action against Chaudhari must be initiated at the earliest.
Policespeak
Manohar Joshi, police inspector at Deccan Police station, said “We have lodged a complaint against Dhanasing Choudhari. He has produced some documents and government resolutions, which support his statement that he can use call himself doctor. Considering it is a technical matter, we are seeking help from the MMC and the legal department. After their reply, we will take further action.”u00a0
The other side
Dhanasing Choudhari said, “As per the complaint, I cannot use the word ‘doctor’ before my name, but an RTI reply from the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy states that a person practicing naturopathy can use the doctor prefix before his name.”
“Moreover, a High Court judgment in an earlier case specifies that a person practicing naturopathy cannot be held guilty of an offence under Section 36 (1) because of the prefix ‘Doctor’ added to his name.
The case registered against me is according to Section 33 (1) of the Maharashtra Medical Practioners (MMP) Act, 1961. Here, it clearly says that there is non-registered persons cannot practice. But I am not practising by prescribing medicines.
So, I should not be booked under this section. If we consider hypnosis, it is autogenic training, whichu00a0I have learnt on my own. u00a0There are some documents
of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which state that with the help of hypnosis, tension and various problems related to it can be cured,” added Choudhari. u00a0