12th Annual Conference of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology    4th Jan, 2014

To commemorate the Golden Jubilee Year of Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology organized the 12th Annual Conference of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (PAFMAT). Theme of the conference was, “Medicolegal Update-must for every Doctor”. The conference has been awarded four CME credit hours by Punjab Medical Council. More than 160 delegates from different parts of India attended the conference.

Dr. Gautam Biswas (Org. Chairperson) welcomed all the dignitaries and the delegates. The Chief Guest Major General (Retd.) Dr. Ajit Singh, Sh. Prem Kumar Gupta (Secretary Managing Society, DMCH) and Dr. GS Maan (President PAFMAT) inaugurated the event by lighting a ceremonial lamp. Dr. Rajoo Singh Chhina (Dean Academics, DMCH), Dr. Sandeep Puri & Dr. Ashwani Chaudhary (Medical Supdts, DMCH), Dr. Sunil Katyal (Member, PMC), Dr. Ashok Chanana (Secretary, PAFMAT) and Dr. DS Bhullar (Editor, JPAFMAT) were also present during the inauguration. Major General (Retd.) Dr. Ajit Singh congratulated the organizers for organizing a conference on medicolegal issues. He further emphasized that all the doctors must update their medicolegal awareness by participating in such conferences. The latest edition of Journal of PAFMAT and a souvenir were released during the inaugural ceremony. Dr. Rajoo Singh informed that DMCH has pioneered by organizing an educational program on medicolegal issues. He also told that this year DMCH completed fifty years of its journey and is celebrating 2014 as a Golden Jubilee Year. Dr. Katyal appraised the participants about the policy of Punjab Medical Council regarding essential credit hours to be achieved by all the doctors. Dr. Biswas also informed the gathering that a year book on Forensic Medicine & Toxicology integrating Good Practice Guidelines and Current issues will soon be available for the medical practitioners. 

Guest speakers from Punjab, Chandigarh and New Delhi delivered guest lectures on various medicolegal issues related to medical profession. Dr. Chanana (GMC, Amritsar) delivered a guest lecture on role of patient’s consent in healthcare and recent changes in law related to sexual violence against women. Dr. Adarsh Kumar (AIIMS, New Delhi) discussed medicolegal issues related to refusal of consent by a patient. Dr. Promila Jindal (DMCH, Ludhiana) discussed medicolegal examination of victims of sexual violence. Dr. D. Harish (GMCH, Chandigarh) discussed the implications of Mandatory Computerization of MedicoLegal work in Punjab. Dr. AD Aggarwal (GMC, Patiala) delivered lecture on safeguards available in case of violence against Doctors and Hospitals. Dr. Krishan Vij (GSMC, Banur) discussed grievous injuries. Dr. DS Bhullar delivered a guest lecture on fabricated mechanical injuries.

                                                                                                                     Dr. Virendar Pal Singh (Org. Secretary) said that recently a disturbing trend of rise in litigation against doctors has been observed all over India. Doctors must update their medicolegal knowledge by participating in such medicolegal conferences. He further informed that Forensic Medicine & Toxicology is the only subject in medical curriculum that imparts medicolegal knowledge to the medical students.He delivered a vote of thanks to all the dignitaries, speakers and delegates.