AN EVALUATION OF THE LAWS GOVERNING MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE IN INDIA

AUTHOR – SYED ABDUR RAHMAN, LLM SCHOLAR AT AMITY INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES, AMITY UNIVERSITY, NOIDA

BEST CITATION – SYED ABDUR RAHMAN, AN EVALUATION OF THE LAWS GOVERNING MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (4) OF 2025, PG. 106-114, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

This article critically examines the laws regulating medical negligence in India after initially describing the concept of negligence in general and medical negligence in particular. Medical negligence refers to the failure of a healthcare professional to provide the expected level of care and is a serious issue that impacts patient safety and legal liability. The study examines in depth the law and jurisprudence of each jurisdiction, providing a comparative analysis to assess the effectiveness of remedies and the challenges that plaintiffs face in their pursuit of justice. In India, the legal environment surrounding medical negligence has changed over time and the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 has played a key role. The landmark judgment in Indian Medical Association v. V. P. Shanta (1995) established a framework for protecting consumer rights in medical matters, but problems of accessibility and acceptability of justice to patients remains.

Keywords: Medical negligence, legal framework, tort law, consumer protection.