Law accepts that there could be several modes of treatment; however, it also mandates that the best available practice / treatment must be adopted. A doctor and hospital were recently held negligent for not doing so.

A pregnant lady was under the care of gynaecologist and consulted him regularly at the hospital. She was admitted at full term for delivery. Unfortunately, the foetus developed hypoxia – a stillborn baby was delivered.

Issuing medical certificate without checking patients personally is against the Indian Medical Council’s code of ethics. Three doctors, surprisingly enough, violated the code and also challenged Uttar Pradesh State Medical Council’s warning for not doing so.

Suffering from fever, cough and vomiting, patient consulted a doctor who prescribed some medicines. But to no avail. The doctor added some more medicines, but it did not alleviate patient’s condition.

Several tests were performed, including Mantoux test. Although the test was negative for TB, the doctor started ATT treatment. Patient’s condition worsened.

A 63-year-old diabetic patient consulted an orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital with swelling, stiffness and severe pain in the left knee. X-ray and tests reported grade IV osteoarthritic changes and joint bone tenderness with limited range of movement associated with pain.

The doctor counselled patient with treatment options; invasive and non-invasive. The patient opted for total knee replacement (TKR) after understanding risks and benefits.

Mistakes or mishaps while providing patient care can happen. Hiding or lying about them in a court of law usually proves counterproductive, as a nursing home in this case discovered.

The patient delivered a child at the nursing home. She suffered vaginal bleeding post-delivery. Her husband was asked to bring two units of A+ blood.

A senior cardiologist narrowly escaped from being held negligent for failing to adhere to one of the most basic protocols in patient care.

He was providing care and treatment to a 78-year-old man with cardiac ailments. The patient had undergone bypass surgery in past.
 

This is an important judgement delivered by the hon’ble Supreme Court of India, clarifying that admitting patients post-surgery in the ICU is not a mandated medical protocol, but rather has to be dealt as per merit of the case.

A patient suffering from Chiari Malformations (Type II) with Hydrocephalous underwent surgery at the hospital. After surgery he was shifted to private room. Unfortunately, he succumbed to cardiac arrest after six days.