Archive for category: News

Three months of time-restricted eating (TRE), irrespective of whether it is earlier or later in the day, may be a promising strategy for sustaining long-term weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, according to preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial being presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11–14 May).

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can lead to significant weight loss and improve blood sugar control in adults with severe mental illness, as well as having positive effects on mood, well-being, and quality of life in those both with and without mental illness, according to a systematic review of the available evidence being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11–14 May).

New Delhi: Despite the proposal for a model law to protect healthcare professionals from violence being acknowledged by the National Task Force (NTF), there has been no significant development in this regard. 

As per the recent RTI response, the National Task Force, which was constituted by the Supreme Court to ensure the safety of doctors and healthcare workers, had requested the Government to prepare the draft model law for States/Union Territories to protect healthcare professionals. Consequently, the Union Health Ministry on September 5, 2024, constituted a sub-group with DGMS (Navy) as the convener, under the National Task Force, to strengthen the legal framework across all States. However, there is no clarity on any development in this regard, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed in response to the RTI, filed by Dr. KV Babu, a Kerala-based Health activist.

The information comes after the Union Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, clarified in the Parliament earlier this year that the existing laws already have provisions to protect doctors from violence.

Dr. Babu, who has been pursuing the matter, filed RTI applications on 29th December 2024 and 30th March 2025 with the Home Ministry seeking the details of the state law prepared to address incidents of violence against doctors.

Also Read: Health Minister addresses issue of violence against doctors, says Existing laws have provisions to deal with such cases

Dr. Babu informed Medical Dialogues that even though the Home Ministry acknowledged such a proposal for drafting a state law, both the Home Ministry and MoH are clueless about the development of the legislation.

The Home Ministry, in its reply, informed in February 2025 that “…after the first meeting of the National Task Force (NTF), BPR&D vide aforementioned letter was, inter-alia requested to prepare the draft model law for State/UTs for protection of healthcare professionals.”

“Subsequently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare vide its OM dated 05.09.2024 constituted a sub-group with DGMS (Navy) as the convener, under the NTF, for strengthening the legal framework across all states,” the RTI reply stated.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the NTF, constituted by the Supreme Court, had informed last year in November that there was no requirement for a separate central law to protect the doctors.

Thiruvananthapuram: After a 31-year-old woman was put on life support after losing her four fingers and toes due to a severe infection following a botched fat removal surgery at a private cosmetic clinic in Thampuranmukku, an expert committee of doctors appointed by the state health department confirmed that the clinic failed to follow standard medical procedures during the surgery.    

Despite the patient having dangerously low blood pressure, she was kept for 12 hours without a ventilator at the facility. Additionally, the patient had a history of heart issues, the surgery was performed without the presence of a cardiologist. 

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that the incident took place on February 22 when M.S. Neethu, a resident of Sreevaraham in Muttathara, underwent a fat removal procedure on her lower abdomen at the ‘Cosmetic Hospital’ in Arasummoodu, Kazhakoottam. She was discharged the next day, but according to a complaint filed by her husband, Padmajith, she soon developed severe fatigue and other alarming symptoms.

Despite informing the attending doctor, she was reportedly only advised to consume salted porridge and water. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and on February 24, she was rushed back to the clinic. Staff at the clinic arranged for her transfer to another private hospital, citing complications including dangerously low blood pressure. There, she reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest following the procedure, which was conducted in February. She has been on ventilator support ever since.

Also read- Kerala: Woman’s fingers, toes amputated after botched surgery at private clinic

Currently, the woman is being treated in the ICU of a private hospital, and her condition is said to be improving. On Monday, doctors had to amputate the fifth toe on her left foot and the fourth toe on her left hand due to complications from the surgery.

Raising concerns about serious lapses in the botched cosmetic surgery, the committee pointed out that the basic protocol of monitoring a patient for 24 hours after administering general anaesthesia was not followed. While the patient had dangerously low blood pressure, she was kept for 12 hours in a facility without a ventilator.

As per a latest media report by Kerala Kaumudi, the committee also pointed out that the surgery was carried out even though the woman had informed them about her heart condition. As the patient had a history of heart problems, a cardiologist should have been present to monitor her during the procedure. However, no cardiologist was available during the procedure, said the committee. 

The committee also found that the cosmetic clinic, which performed complex surgeries, did not have ambulance facilities and was operating despite not being registered as a medical establishment. 

The District Medical Officer (DMO) has now written to the heads of the critical care and radiology departments at the medical college to get their expert opinions on the matter. Including their opinion, the committee will submit a final report in the case.

Also read- C-section Via Phone? Doctor, Hospital booked after nurse performs procedure on 5 month old IVF twins