Amar Singh Club Hosts Powerful Seminar on Medical Ethics and Empathy in Srinagar
By Shazia Shah | Kashmir Pen
Srinagar | July 10, 2025: A thought-provoking seminar titled “Healing With Honor – Ethics & Empathy in Medical Practices” was held at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar, under its ongoing initiative ‘Common Interest Conversations’. The event brought together legal luminaries, senior doctors, and civil society members for a deep dive into the state of healthcare ethics, rampant malpractices, and the need for restoring the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.
Presided over by Senior Advocate Mr. Zaffar A Shah and chaired by eminent neurologist Dr. Sushil Razdan, the event featured a distinguished panel including Dr. Mustaq Margoob, Dr. Abdul Wahid, and Dr. Naveed Nazir. The discussions centred on the erosion of empathy in medical practice, growing commercialization, unethical pharmaceutical influences, and a serious accountability vacuum.
Nasir Hamid Khan, Secretary of Amar Singh Club, highlighted the importance of revisiting ancient medical ethics rooted in texts like the Charaka Samhita, and underscored that healing is a sacred duty, not a business transaction. He exposed practices such as stent and angioplasty frauds and rising C-section surgeries—often driven more by profit than medical necessity.
Calling out the weak regulatory environment, Khan noted that while the U.S. has stringent laws like the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, India still relies on largely voluntary codes such as the UCPMP and outdated medical council regulations with poor enforcement.
Mr. Zaffar Shah delivered a hard-hitting critique of the system, questioning the silence and complicity in the medical fraternity. “There must be an independent legislative monitoring body. Doctors must be held accountable like any other professional,” he said, demanding audits of prescriptions and an enforceable mechanism for redressal.
Dr. Sushil Razdan highlighted the challenges doctors face in overburdened systems but acknowledged that patient trust is declining. He emphasized that the real remedy lies in empathy and human connection, not merely in technology or specialization.
Dr. Abdul Wahid recounted personal incidents of medical negligence and misdiagnosis, urging his peers to spend more time understanding their patients instead of rushing to prescribe. He lauded past legends like Dr. Ali Jan and Dr. Naseer, who embodied compassion and selflessness.
Dr. Mustaq Margoob shared alarming statistics indicating a sharp rise in burnout syndrome among doctors—from 16% in the 1990s to 43% today—calling for balanced reforms. He warned against sociopathic tendencies within the profession and stressed the urgent need to restore empathy.
Dr. Naveed Nazir, reflecting on patient mistrust and systemic issues, called for a universal healthcare model and a better referral system. He underlined the absurdity of current pharmaceutical practices and defended the right of doctors to be cautious with ‘generic’ prescriptions unless genuine quality is ensured.
The event concluded with a strong consensus on the need for introspection within the medical fraternity. Participants urged the government to establish independent accountability bodies and enforce stricter ethical standards. They also emphasized the importance of celebrating and emulating legendary doctors of Kashmir who upheld the highest values of empathy and humility.
The seminar served as a clarion call for the medical community to reclaim its nobility and realign itself with its core purpose—service to humanity | Kashmir Pen
