Govt threatens action against doctors for giving misinformation on Covid-19

Bengaluru: The State Health and Family Welfare Services has asked doctors to be careful while speaking to reporters and misinformation or non-factual data on Covid-19 shared on media platforms would be deemed as an offence and necessary action would be initiated.

The order issued by the Karnataka department of health on Tuesday came as the State battles a wave of the pandemic.

The Health and Family Welfare Services in a note stated, "It has come to the notice of the government that a few medical practitioners, while communicating to public on various media platforms, are giving incomplete, inaccurate and unsubstantiated information on Covid-19. Such misinformation leads to confusion in public at large on the prevailing Covid scenario in the State and encourages them to deviate from well-laid down guidelines issued by the health and revenue authorities."

The medical practitioners, being proficient in both clinical and public health fields, should exercise utmost care and caution while communicating with public on Covid 19. It is expected that medical practitioners shall refer to the guidelines / circulars / orders issued by the Government of Karnataka and Government of India thoroughly, before appearing on any media / social platform."

The note added, any misinformation or non-factual data on Covid-19 shared on such platforms would be deemed as an offence and necessary action would be initiated as per section 54 of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and section 4(K) of Karnataka Epidemic Disease Act, 2020.