UPSC Ethics Simplified | What can a doctor’s story teach future public servants? Revisiting medical ethics after the cough syrup tragedy

The recent cough syrup tragedy, which led to multiple child deaths, underscores the urgent need to revisit medical ethics, particularly the ethics of care . With repeated lapses in healthcare, one must ask: are we truly upholding the basic principles of medical ethics ? UPSC has often framed questions and case studies, directly or indirectly, around this issue. Nanditesh Nilay , our ethicist, helps explore this question through a caselet.

When care defines ethics: ‘The Hamdard Story’

Father and son — both were doctors. There was a great camaraderie between them. The father was a well-known figure in the medical fraternity, while the son was more of a seeker. However, whenever the chips were down, the father used to say, “You have made it this far.”

They were Hamdards and were ref