Around 160 psychiatrists from across Odisha attended a day-long Continuing Medical Education (CME) program on ‘Law and Psychiatry’ organised by the Department of Psychiatry of Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here on Saturday.

A plethora of subjects were discussed during the program by eminent experts who focused on how doctors should prepare themselves to face judicial requirement in cases when summoned to the court room.

The CME was organised in collaboration with the Odisha State Branch of the Indian Psychiatry Society (IPS).

Five eminent psychiatrists of the country spoke in different sessions on varied topics and took part in panel discussions.

While Prof. (Dr.) S. Nambi, eminent psychiatrist from Chennai, spoke on ‘Marriage, Mental Illness and Indian Law’, Prof. (Dr.) Naveen Kumar articulated his views on the subject ‘Psychiatrists in the Court Room’. Prof. (Dr.) C. Laxmi Narayan from Gaya, spoke on the subject ‘Certification in Psychiatry’.

Prof. (Dr.) Ivan S. Netto, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at B.J. Government Medical College and Sassoon Hospital, and Prof. (Dr.) Srinivas Singisetti took part in panel discussions.

Prof. (Dr.) Rajani Kanta Shukla, President of Odisha branch of IPS, who presided over the inaugural session, said anything the doctors wrote had a medico-legal implication. Prof. Prabir Kumar Pattnaik, Senior Professor at the SOA National Institute of Law, spoke on the subject ‘Interlink between Law and Psychiatry.’

The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of IMS and SUM Hospital, who said that medical practitioners were weak in legal aspects. The CME would go a long way in augmenting their knowledge, she said.

Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Prof. (Dr.) Surjeet Sahoo, Head of Department of Psychiatry at IMS and SUM Hospital, Prof. (Dr.) Subhendu Narayan Mishra, Vice-President of Odisha branch of IPS, Dr. Debadatta Mohapatra, General Secretary of Odisha branch of IPS, Dr. Prasanta Kumar Mohapatra, Chairman of the CME Committee and Dr. Jitendriya Biswal, Organising Secretary of the CME also spoke.