If a doctor is going to be absent from duty, he must substitute another senior doctor in his absence, or inform about his unavailability to the patient/relatives before taking up the case, unless it is an emergency.  

The patient has the right to good medical care. Regulation 2.4 of the MCI Code of Ethics Regulations, 2002 states that the patient should never be neglected.

The regulation outlines that a doctor can choose whom he will serve. However, he must respond to a request for his assistance in case of an emergency. Once a physician has taken a case, he must not neglect the patient. Also, he should not withdraw from the case without giving adequate notice to the patient and his family.

NABH/DMAI also says that patients must be provided with information and access on whom to contact if there is an emergency