"The medical profession is one of the oldest professions of the world and is the most humanitarian one. There is no better service than to serve the suffering, wounded and the sick. Inherent in the concept of any profession is a code of conduct, containing the basic ethics that underline the moral values that govern professional practice and is aimed at upholding its dignity. Medical ethics underpin the values at the heart of the practitioner-client relationship. In recent times, professionals are developing a tendency to forget that the self-regulation which is at the heart of their profession is a privilege and not a right and a profession obtains this privilege in return for an implicit contract with society to provide good, competent and accountable service to the public. It must always be kept in mind that a doctor's is a noble profession and the aim must be to serve humanity, otherwise this dignified profession will lose its true worth."

[State of Punjab v. Shiv Ram reported in (2005) 7 SCC 1, para 34]

This judgment of the Supreme Court will set a tone for the case on hand.

2. These five writ petitions came to be posted on being specially ordered by the Hon'ble Actin