‘YES... A Doctor can take leave anytime if necessary’ – Court rejects Rs.2 crore Medical Negligence case against doctors.

‘YES... A Doctor can take leave anytime if necessary’ – Court rejects Rs.2 crore Medical Negligence case against doctors.

“A Doctor, like any other professional can take leave if felt necessary by him on account of his personal reasons or otherwise and it is the DUTY of the HOSPITAL to take alternate arrangements.” –

” Like other normal human being he (DOCTOR) also needs to take rest and his meals and then get ready for the duty to be performed on the next day” – Hon. National Commission

The National Commission again came to the rescue of Doctors and denied the charges of Medical Negligence of WORTH RS. 2 CRORES, on the count that the Doctor without giving proper instructions to the other Doctor went on leave.

Shri. Manishbhai Joshi V/s. Sheth P.T. Surat Gen. Hospital & ors.

Short Factual Matrix:

The Deceased patient 86,, father of the Complainant the patient of past Bilateral Centrilobulor Emphysematous in the form of Hyper inflated lung with flattening of lobes was admitted in the Hospital, succumbed to long existing chronic end stage respiratory disease, But the main grievance of the Complainant was that the treating Doctor went outstation without giving proper Instruction to his fellow Doctor, when the patient was still admitted in the Hospital.

Held that:
The National Commission rejected the complaint for Rs. TWO CRORES Compensation and observed as above.

It further held that in our opinion, briefing by main treating Doctor to other Doctor, in his absence, would be necessary since the symptoms, diagnosis & treatment of the patient is recorded in the treatment record of the patient kept in the hospital and therefore any suitably qualified doctor attending the patient, in the absence of the previous doctor, would be in a position to advise appropriate treatment and medicines taking into consideration symptoms, conditions and illness of the patient along with the treatment given to him in the past.

It is not as if only a super specialist in chest related disease can treat such a patient.

A doctor, who has done Post Graduation in Medicine, in our opinion, is fully competent to treat the patient.

In fact, in almost all the hospitals, Senior Doctors normally retire for the day in the evening/night and it is only Junior Doctor such as Junior Residents and Senior Residents who remain on duty.

The consultant is called if necessary, depending upon the condition of the patient.

This judgment is of utmost importance for all the Medicos.

Because such situation is faced by every Doctor. Any professional is a Human first ,later an expert from his/her field…

Thanks & Regards,

Adv. Rohit Erande.
Pune. ©