Surgery halted mid-way — Court backs clinical judgment
Issue -
March - 2026, Posted On: 01 March 2026
The case arose from a complex brain surgery planned after imaging revealed a sizeable tumour compressing critical structures. The patient was admitted, investigations were completed, consent was taken after explaining risks, and surgery was undertaken by a specialised team. During the operation, the surgeons encountered severe swelling in the brain tissue. Continuing the procedure any further, they recorded, would have risked catastrophic injury or even death. The operation was therefore consciously abandoned after partial tumour removal, with clear documentation noting the reason for stopping and advising further reassessment at a later stage.
After discharge, follow-up imaging showed that a significant portion of the tumour remained. The patient subsequently underwent another surgery at a different centre and then approached the consumer forum alleging that the first surgery was either ineffective or falsely projected as successful. It was claimed that stating “partial removal” amounted to misrepresentation and that abandoning the procedure itself reflected medical negligence.
|