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Controversial topics reintroduced to Indiaโ€™s medical curriculum

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Delhi, India
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In a surprising U-turn, Indiaโ€™s National Medical Commission has revised the medical curriculum, reintroducing controversial topics related to sexuality and gender. This decision has sparked a debate on education, LGBTQ+ rights, and the intersection of law and medicine in the country.

Indiaโ€™s apex medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC), has recently made headlines with its decision to revise the forensic medical curriculum for undergraduate students.

Raising eyebrows among progressive circles, the NMC has reintroduced controversial topics including โ€˜sodomy and lesbianism under the category of unnatural sexual offencesโ€™ and the โ€˜importance of hymen, definition of virginity and defloration, and its legitimacy and medico-legal importance.โ€™

This change effectively rolls back modifications made in 2022 that sought to make medical education more inclusive and LGBTQ+ friendly. These topics had been removed following directives from the Madras High Court, which had called for a more scientific and less discriminatory approach.

Perhaps most concerning for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies is the erasure of a distinction between consensual queer sex and offenses such as incest and bestiality.

This blurring of the lines between consensual acts and criminal behaviour represents a significant setback in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and dignity in India.

Additionally, the move reflects a complex interplay between medical education, legal frameworks, and societal attitudes.

The revised syllabus will now educate on new laws โ€“ namely the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) โ€“ covering cases that are related to rape, injury, and protecting children from sexual offenses.

While this is a step forward, other vital elements have also been removed. This includes seven hours of disability training, which was part of the foundation course.

Topics related to disability in the medical ethics module are also absent, which has been noted by disability rights activists like Dr. Satendra Singh and Dr. Sanjay Sharma from the Association of Transgender Health in India.

Both have written to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda expressing their concerns, arguing that the changes not only impact people with disabilities, transgender and gender-diverse individuals, and persons with differences in sexual orientation, but damage Indiaโ€™s image in international forums.

Highlighting the ongoing struggle between traditional views and progressive ideals in Indian society, the move is a retreat to conservatism, despite the push for a more inclusive and scientifically-grounded medical education that the 2022 modifications presented.

The NMC has not provided any specific reasons for the changes, leaving many speculating the motivation behind the curriculum overhaul. The silence from senior NMC officials (regardless of repeated attempts to reach them) has only compounded the controversy.

As India continues to navigate being a modern democracy with deep-rooted traditions, this debate serves as a microcosm of broader issues. The challenge lies in striking a balance between cultural sensitivities and embracing scientific progress and human rights.

During the coming months, medical students, educators, LGBTQ+ activists, and disability rights advocates will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and what it will mean for the future of medical education and societal progress in India.

Remote Writer Delhi, India

Sahil (they/them) is a remote writer for Thred and an economics undergraduate in India. Their diverse cultural background informs their writing and research on gender minorities, climate disparity, and intersectional social issues. When not delving into complex societal challenges, Sahil grapples with their ever-expanding library of unread books – a collection that grows faster than their ability to tackle it.

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