Aamir defamed, demoralised us; must say sorry: IMA

The Indian Medical Association on Saturday demanded an immediate apology from actor Aamir Khan accusing him of having defamed the medical profession in the May 27 episode of his TV show Satyamev Jayate and warned him of legal action if he did not do so.

"Aamir Khan should apologise for having defamed and given one side of the story on medical profession. If he does not, we are contemplating to take legal action against him for defaming and demoralising the medical profession in his TV show Satyamev Jayate which was telecast on May 27 on Star TV channel," IMA Secretary General Dr D R Rai said.

"Every profession has its dark horses. Even the profession, to which Aamir Khan belongs, is in the news every now and then due to some ill practices in the industry. But it can safely be claimed that the white sheep always outnumber the black ones in every field."

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It was extremely wrong on the part of a responsible citizen of the country and a public figure like Aamir Khan whom most of the citizens of the country might even consider as their role model, to put the rotten eggs over the good ones," he said at a press conference held to present the doctors' perspective on the episode on Healthcare on Aamir Khan's Programme Satyamev Jayate.

Doctors representing 21 medical institutions took part in the press conference. Prominent among those present at the press conference were Dr V K Narang, finance secretary, IMA, Dr Harish Gupta, president of Delhi Medical Association, Dr K K Aggarwal, president, Heart Care Foundation of India, Dr Harsh Mahajan of Mahajan Imaging Centre and Dr Ashok Grover, chairman of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital amongst others.

The May 27 episode of Aamir's show sought to throw light on medical malpractices across the country.

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In a statement issued to the press, the doctors said they spend years together studying and practicing medicine and give a new lease of life to thousands of patients through medical treatment and procedures.

"Most of them were of the view that Khan wanted to create ruffled features and increase his show's TRP instead of portraying both sides of the coin," he said.

Noting that bad elements despite being fewer leave a more lasting impact than the good ones and claiming that the percentage of good over evil is much higher in the medical profession, he said more time should have been allotted to showing the good aspect of professionals.

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He also said that inviting the Association would have helped budding doctors viewing the episode to choose their role models and the general masses not to form a bad opinion of doctors.

Dr Rai said, "We reiterate our concern and state that Mr Aamir Khan should apologise publicly for portraying a one-sided story which is not in the right spirit of ethics of constructive journalism, especially while bringing to the notice of the general masses, some cases of rare occurrences as regular phenomenon or practice."

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