The Supreme Court of India ruled that doctors cannot be held liable for negligence solely due to unsuccessful treatments, requiring clear evidence of deviation from standard practices. This decision protects doctors from baseless claims while balancing patient rights.

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that medical professionals cannot be liable for negligence solely because surgery or treatment did not yield the desired results. In a decision on Friday, the court underscored that liability requires evidence of a doctor’s deviation from accepted medical practices, not merely an unsatisfactory outcome.

The ruling stemmed from a complaint about a child’s unsuccessful eye surgery, initially dismissed by a state commission but later awarded compensation by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. The Supreme Court reversed this, reaffirming the Bolam Test, a standard for assessing medical negligence based on adherence to established practices.

The court emphasized that adverse results do not automatically indicate negligence, recognizing that medical procedures inherently carry risks. Dr. DK Gupta of Felix Hospital praised the decision, noting it would allow doctors to practice without fear of baseless claims. The ruling balanced safeguarding patients' rights with protecting doctors from undue liability.

(Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/medical-negligence-only-in-case-of-clear-deviation-from-practice-sc-101730140253868.html )