Morning MEDtalks with Dr K K Aggarwal

New Delhi , July 19,2018 :

Supreme Court : Aborting a healthy foetus is akin to murder

The Hon’ble Supreme Court has on 16.07.2018 flatly denied a 20-year-old woman permission to terminate her 25-week-old pregnancy, observing that aborting a healthy foetus that is unlikely to affect the mother’s physical health amounted to murder.

In her petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Mumbai-based woman pleaded that she would suffer from mental trauma if she went ahead with the “unwanted pregnancy”. Before the Hon’ble Apex Court, the petitioner said she was suffering from epilepsy and was about to separate from her husband, whom she accused of domestic violence.

According to the Indian laws on Abortion, a foetus older than 20 weeks can be aborted if its birth is likely to culminate in serious physical or mental abnormalities or if the pregnancy poses a threat to the mother’s life.

“She is not likely to suffer any physical harm,” Hon’ble Supreme Court told the petitioner woman’s counsel.

The lawyer of the petitioner, however, argued that the mental injury her client would suffer if she isn’t allowed to abort the “unwanted pregnancy” should also be considered. (Source: HT)

No service tax on membership fee of any medical association

In a significant decision the double bench of Tribunal (CESTAT) of service tax set aside the demand of service tax applicable to IMA on 4 June 2018. Earlier aggrieved of order of commissioner adjudication dated 04.02.2014 for the demand along with the interest and consequent penalty appeal was filed with the CESTAT in 2014. According to the department, Service tax was not paid on Membership fee paid by members to IMA.

After multiple hearings a stay was granted against this demand and penalty earlier and the final judgment came on 4 June. The judgment has implications on all the medical professional societies.

Stent off price cap?

Meril Life Sciences is likely to get an exemption from government-set price caps. Meril, has developed MeRes100, which is the country’s first locally made bioresorbable vascular scaffold, or naturally dissolving stent for clearing blockages in arteries. It was approved by DCGI last year. The exemption, if given, will be valid for five years.

Meril Life has sought exemption under Para 32 of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, which is applicable when a new drug developed through a unique, indigenous process, is patented under the Indian Patent Act, 1970, and is not produced elsewhere. (livemint)

Medical breakthrough: World’s first blood test for melanoma

Australian scientists from Edith Cowan University have developed the world’s first blood test to detect melanoma in its early stages. Early trials in 105 melanoma patients and 104 healthy people showed that the test could accurately detect early stage melanoma in 81.5% of cases. The blood test detects 10 combinations of protein autoantibodies produced by the body in response to melanoma.

Professor Mel Ziman from Edith Cowan University said, “We were able to detect melanomas that were less than 1 mm in depth, which was fantastic. The next step is to improve the sensitivity of the test, carry out extensive clinical trials and test results against biopsies of suspected melanoma.” (The Guardian/abc.net.au)

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