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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Medical Negligence and Compensation in India: How Much is Just and Effective? -Anurag K Agarwal

Medical Negligence and Compensation in India: How Much is Just and Effective? -Anurag K Agarwal

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published Published on May 23, 2014   modified Modified on May 23, 2014
-IIM Ahmedabad

 

There is no denying the fact that human life is precious and in cases of medical negligence, the judges find it extremely difficult to decide on the quantum of compensation as the quantum is highly subjective in nature, and despite the best efforts of the legislature to enact certain laws which can somehow provide a framework for arriving at a quantum, and also interpretation by the judiciary for so many decades, it has not yet been finally settled as to what should be the method used for determining compensation in cases of medical negligence. The multiplier method - followed typically in motor accident cases - provides certainty but does not often end up in arriving at ‘just and adequate compensation'. Hence, the courts rarely follow it in cases of medical negligence. A recent case - Kunal Saha - decided by the Supreme Court in October 2013 has once again raised this extremely important and unsettled issue for debate and discussion. Whatever the quantum of compensation, does it have any serious financial, or any, effect on the erring hospitals and medical professionals is also debatable. This paper examines the issues related to just, adequate and effective compensation in cases of medical negligence and provides certain suggestions.

There cannot be any doubt that the compensation in medical negligence cases has to be just and adequate, but with the changing times and aspirations of the people, also with tremendous advancements in medical science resulting in much better diagnosis and far better treatment as in the yesteryears, it's legitimately expected by the patients and their attendants that the medical professionals need to be accountable to a certain degree, if not fully. The higher the level of hospital - specialisation, facilities available and also the cost of treatment - the higher is the level of expectation of the people. The same applies to the degree of specialisation of doctors and other medical professionals. Most of the hospitals - both government and in private sector - treat a large number of patients and must be held accountable in cases of negligence. 


With the development of consumer law in the country, it is quite natural that the quantum of compensation will increase and more and more hospitals will be brought under the ambit of this law. The judicial officers, especially at the lowest level of hierarchy - the District Forum, and thereafter going up in the hierarchy, should be ready to align the quantum of compensation with the real world rather than being tied up in the theoretical concepts and unrealistic and impractical precedents. Only then the victims and their dependents will be able to get just and adequate compensation. Till then, just and adequate compensation shall remain a mirage. 
 
Please click here to download the entire paper. 

 


IIM Ahmedabad, Working Paper No. 2014-03-27, March 2014, http://esocialsciences.org/Articles/showArticle.aspx?acat=Recent+Articles&aid=5875


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