Homosexual relations became a crime again! The syllabus of medical studies changed in just two years

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has changed the curriculum of forensic medicine for medical students this year. Homosexuality and unnatural sex have been re-included in it. The NMC had made changes to the curriculum in 2022 on the instructions of the Madras High Court, but now the old rules have been implemented again. Under the new changes, topics like ‘Importance of Hymen’, ‘Definition of Virginity and Defloration’ and ‘Their importance from a legal point of view’ have been re-included in the syllabus of forensic medicine. In the year 2022, to make education more inclusive towards the LGBTQ+ community, the NMC had removed these topics and clarified the difference between consensual homosexual relationships, adultery as well as serious crimes like incest and sex with animals.

Madras High Court’s order is meaningless!

In 2022, the topics related to ‘virginity’ were changed on the recommendations of an expert committee constituted on the instructions of the Madras High Court. Its purpose was to make students aware of unscientific tests like hymen test on the orders of the court. Changes were also made in the syllabus of psychiatry in 2022 to help students better understand gender, gender identity and sexual orientation. However, after the new changes, topics like ‘difference between gender and sexual identity’ and related confusion are not mentioned in detail in the syllabus of psychiatry. It is not stated in the syllabus of psychiatry that students should be taught about ‘various things related to gender identity’.

As per the new syllabus, students in forensic medicine will be taught about the provisions of the new laws – Indian Civil Protection Code (BNSS), Indian Justice Code (BNS) and Indian Evidence Act (BSA). It also mentions the appropriate legal provisions for cases like rape, injury and protection of children from sexual offences. The changes in the syllabus have been uploaded on the NMC website. However, no specific reason has been given for the amendment.

Disability training ends

The new curriculum has removed seven hours of disability-related training as a foundation course. It also does not include disability-related topics in the lessons on ethics related to the medical field, which is a matter of concern for disability rights activists. Disability rights activist Dr. Satendra Singh and Dr. Sanjay Sharma of the Association of Transgender Health in India said in a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, “These competencies should have been included in the entire curriculum, but they are missing from the 2024 curriculum.”

The letter said, ‘We therefore request you to use the influence of your high position to rectify this mistake which not only directly affects the interests of persons with disabilities, transgender and gender-different persons, persons with differences in sexual orientation and persons with differences in gender development, but also harms the image of our country at international forums.’ The skill-based medical education (CBME) curriculum was first introduced by the Medical Council of India in 2019. This is the first time that the NMC has released a complete CBME.