The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released a notice regarding the cancellation of the Competency-Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) Guidelines, 2024, which were released on August 31. The move come after the rights activists and experts criticised the reinstatement of several topics in the forensic medicine and toxicology curriculum which could be controversial for MBBS students. The medical body also said that revised guidelines will be released in due course of time. Once out, the candidates will be able to check it on the official website of NMC, nmc.org.in.
What was said in the official notice?
The official notice reads, 'It is informed that the Circular of even number dated 31.08.2024 thereby issuing Guidelines under Competency-Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) 2024, stands “WITHDRAWN AND CANCELLED” with immediate effect. The above guidelines will be revised and uploaded in due course.
Inclusion of controversial topics
According to the news agency PTI, the medical body reintroduced ‘sodomy and lesbianism’ as unnatural sexual offences in the forensic medicine and toxicology curriculum for undergraduate medical students. It has also brought back topics such as the hymen and its type, and its medico-legal importance besides defining virginity and defloration, legitimacy and its medico-legal importance. These subjects were done away with in 2022 following a Madras High Court directive. The revised curriculum under forensic medicine and toxicology also includes 'Describe legal competencies including Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)' besides 'Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), Civil and Criminal Cases, Inquest (Police Inquest and Magistrate’s Inquest), cognisable and Non-cognisable offences'.
Trans group objected
Notably, the topics that were objected to included references to ‘lesbianism’ and ‘sodomy’ as unnatural sexual offences, a move highly criticised by Transgender and disability rights groups. They called it “outright ableist, transphobic”.
(With agencies Inputs)
