1. How could Dr Desai possibly continue for so long as
president of the Indian Medical Council?
2. How could the World Medical Association elect him as
president?
A potential answer to the first question can be found in
Edward Luce's brilliant book on India, "In Spite of the Gods."
Luce loves India as I do, but he makes clear not only that
corruption is everywhere in India but also that corrupt
officials have no fear of being sacked.
The answer to the second question might be that the World
Medical Association has long been an ethically suspect
organisation where the wily and politically savvy can flourish
regardless of their moral standing.
Both India and the World's doctors deserve better.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
28 May 2010
Richard Smith
Board member
UK Panel on Research Integrity in Health and Biomedical Sciences, London SW4
Rapid Response:
Two questions that beg to be answered
Surely anybody reading this will ask:
1. How could Dr Desai possibly continue for so long as
president of the Indian Medical Council?
2. How could the World Medical Association elect him as
president?
A potential answer to the first question can be found in
Edward Luce's brilliant book on India, "In Spite of the Gods."
Luce loves India as I do, but he makes clear not only that
corruption is everywhere in India but also that corrupt
officials have no fear of being sacked.
The answer to the second question might be that the World
Medical Association has long been an ethically suspect
organisation where the wily and politically savvy can flourish
regardless of their moral standing.
Both India and the World's doctors deserve better.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests