The medical profession has slipped into an abyss and is falling fast. The reason is that the profession that was considered noble has corruption woven into its fabric. Corruption and unethical practice is accepted and justified by many doctors and accepted by patients as well. The doctors believe it is not wrong to be corrupt as they do not look at it as corruption and patients accept it because they think they can do nothing about it. To make it worse, the Medical council of India (MCI) itself, until recently has been considered a den of corruption, by the Supreme Court of India.

The doctors believe they are entitled to a part of the pie that is being enjoyed by everyone else in the medical industry. They do not realise that it is morally and ethically wrong to accept kickbacks. There can be no room for conflict of interest in medicine. This is because doctors provide a service that is different from all other services. The patients come to them because they have to and not because they want to. The doctors provide service, based on trust. Hence, the responsibility lies with the doctors to be honest and ethical. Hospitals and other allied service providers are party to this crime as well. We will try to help correct this situation by educating the public and,hopefully, doctors too about what are unethical and corrupt practices with a series of short articles on a weekly basis.