ANALYSIS OF MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CASES ADJUDGED BY STATE CONSUMER COMMISSIONS OF NORTHERN INDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jfmt.2024.41.1.11Keywords:
Medical Negligence, Duty of Care, Cause of Action, Patient Autonomy, Informed Consent, State CommissionsAbstract
Introduction: The Supreme Court of India decreed that a physician owes a duty of care towards his patients while deciding whether or not to embark on the case and a duty of care in deciding the mode of administration and modality of the proposed treatment plan. Any breach of duty would make him liable for a cause of action against him.
Materials and methods: A total of 89 cases within a 2½ year period were studied with the aim of analysing the pattern of cases of medical negligence filed in the State Commissions of Northern India; reasons for filing them, outcome of the suits and the time frame of decision making process. Results: Doctors belonging to single specialty (in comparison to composite negligence) were implicated in 82% cases and General Surgery was at the highest risk of litigation, with 16.5% cases, followed by Gynaecology, 11%. Most of the litigants were male and from urban areas. Maximum cases were filed against self-owned establishments, while govt. hospitals were the most immune.
Downloads
References
World consumer rights day. Available from https:// www.consumersinternational.org / what -we-do/world consumer-rights-day/. Accessed on 20.06.2022.
National consumer rights day. Available from: https:/ /www.jagranjosh.com/currentaffairs/national consumers-right-day-observed-across-india-on-24- december13.
The Consumer Protection Act 1986. Available from: http://ncdrc.nic.in/ bare_acts/consumer%20 protection%20act-986.html. Accessed on 20.06.2022.
Indian Medical Association vs V.P. Shantha & Ors on 13 November, Citation 1995 1996 AIR 550, 1995 SCC (6) 651. Judgment of Supreme Court. Available
from https://indiankanoon.org/doc/723973/. Accessed on 20.06.2022.
Baron Alderson Justice. In Blyth vs Brimingham Waterworks Co. 11 Ex Ch 781. Available from: https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Blyth_v_Birmingham_ Waterworks_Co. Accessed on September 2, 2022.
Reddy KSN. Medical law and ethics. In: The essentials of forensic medicine and toxicology, 22nd edn, 2003. K. Suguna Devi, Hyderabad. 19-46.
Vij K. Legal and ethical aspects of medical practice, medical negligence, consent to and refusal of treatment. In: Textbook of forensic medicine and toxicology, 3rd edn, 2005. Reed Elsevier India Pvt. Limited, New Delhi. 501-34.
Harish, D., Kumar, A. Singh, A. Patient autonomy and informed consent: the core of modern day ethical medical practice. Jour Ind Acad Forensic Med 2015;37(4): p.410-3.
Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee [1957]. Available from http:// www.e lawresources.co.uk/Bolam-v-Friern-Hospital Management- Committee.php. Accessed on 20.06.2022.
Montgomery v. Lanarkshire Health Board 2015 UKSC 11 On appeal from: [2013] CSIH 3; [2010] CSIH 104. Judgment of UK Supreme Court. Available from https:/ /www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2013-0136- judgment. pdf. Accessed on 20.06.2022.
Great Britain. England. Court of Appeal, Civil Division. Sidaway v. Bethlem Royal Hospital. All Engl Law Rep. 1984 Feb 23;[1984] 1:1018-36. PMID: 11648155. Accessed on 20.06.2022.
Bolitho v City and Hackney Health Authority. Available from: https://www.lawteacher.net/cases/ bolitho-v-hackney.php?vref=1. Accessed on 17 November 2020.
V. Kishan Rao vs Nikhil Super Speciality Hospital on 8 March, 2010. Judgment of Supreme Court. Available from https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1920027/ . Accessed on 29.10.2018.
Jacob Mathew vs State Of Punjab & anr on 5 August, 2005. Judgment of Supreme Court. Available from https://indiankanoon.org/doc/871062/. Accessed on 29.10.2018.
Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences vs Prasanth S.Dhananka & Ors on 14 May, 2009. Available from: https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1110505/. Accessed on 26.11.2020.
Balram Prasad vs Kunal Saha & Ors on 24 October, 2013. Judgment of Supreme Court. Available from https://indiankanoon.org/doc/35346928/. Accessed on 29.10.2018.
Rayamane, Anand & Nanandkar, S.D. & Kundargi, Pooja. Profile of medical negligence cases in India. Jour Ind Acad Forensic Med 2016:38:144-8. Doi: 10.5958/0974-0848.2016.00037.3.
Yadav M, Rastogi P. A study of medical negligence cases decided by the district consumer courts of delhi. Available at http://www.academia.edu /10258995 / A_Study _ of _ Medical_Negligence_Cases_ decided_by_the_District_Consumer_Courts_of_Delhi. Accessed on 16.10.2022.
Madea B, Preuß J. Medical malpractice as reflected by the forensic evaluation of 4450 autopsies. Forensic Science International. 2009;190(1-3):58-66.
He Fanggang, Li Liliang, Bynum, Jennifer Meng, Xiangzhi, Yan Ping, Li, Ling, Liu, Liang. Medical malpractice in wuhan, china, Medicine 2015;94(45):e2026 doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002026.
NLSIU survey. Available from https:// timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/ Negligence-major-reasons-for-rise-in-cases-of medical-litigation-NLSIU- survey/article show / 50054798.cms. Accessed on 29.10.2022.
Kannan K, Editor, Modi s textbook of medical jurisprudence and toxicology. Gurgaon: published by LexisNexis (Butterworths), India, 2016, PP 103-40.
Bajpai MK. Study on medical negligence cases. Available from http://www.indiamedical times.com/ 2016/11/20/110-rise-in-number-of-medical- negligence cases-in-india-every-year-study/. Accessed on 29.10.2022.
Vaghela R. Compensation under section 163-a of the motor vehicles act - need for review of supreme court judgment. 6 SCC (Jour) 9. 2001.
Pandit B, Walke D. 1. In: Patel MC, Editor. Manual of Medicolegal Issues. 1st ed. 2020 Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; p. 5.
