Conversion Therapy

Recently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has written to all State Medical Councils banning conversion therapy and calling it a “professional misconduct”.

  • The NMC was following a Madras High Court directive to issue an official notification listing conversion therapy as a wrong, under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquettes and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.

About Conversion Therapy: Conversion or reparative therapy is an intervention aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of an individual.

  • It employs the use of psychiatric treatment, drugs, exorcism or even violence to make the individual a heterosexual.
  • It also includes efforts to change the core identity of youth whose gender identity is incongruent with their sex anatomy.

Madras High Court on Conversion Therapy

  • Prohibited any attempt to medically “cure” or change the sexual orientation of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual or of any other orientation) people.
  • Urged the authorities to take action against professionals involving themselves in any form or method of conversion therapy which could include the withdrawal of licence to practice medicine.
  • Directed the police, for example, to close complaints of missing person cases without subjecting them to harassment if it found on investigation that the parties were consenting adults belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.
  • Directed the National Medical Commission to issue necessary official notification by enlisting ‘Conversion Therapy’ as a professional misconduct.

Related Content