A nurse's mistake could not put the anaesthetist under criminal anaesthesia
Issue -
September - 2026, Posted On: 01 September 2026
A piles surgery followed by a patient's death led to criminal proceedings against an anaesthetist who had completed her duty hours several hours before the fatal event. The Supreme Court was called upon to decide whether a doctor could be criminally prosecuted for an alleged procedural lapse committed later by hospital staff.
The patient had undergone surgery and was shifted to the post-operative ward. Later that evening, he complained of severe pain. According to the prosecution, the senior anaesthetist, who was no longer on duty, advised administration of an epidural analgesic over the phone instead of personally attending the patient. The injection was administered by a staff nurse, following which the patient's condition deteriorated and he later died of acute coronary insufficiency.