Medical Negligence During A Pandemic

A man need not possess the highest expert skill; it is well-established law that it is sufficient if he exercises the ordinary skill of an ordinary competent man exercising that particular art. - Mc Nair, J¹

Having lived with the pandemic for more than a year now, it is important to recognize that while it has been a disruptive and challenging time for us, we haven't faced the brunt of it the way the medical fraternity has. While the medical professionals and related staff have worked round-the-clock to manage the crisis, on the other hand there have been reports of mismanagement, patients being denied due care and medical assistance and in certain cases, non-observance of safety protocols; ultimately endangering the lives of both healthcare professionals and patients alike. These issues bring forth the topic of medical negligence and the role played by law and judiciary to curb it. This article discusses medical negligence in the context of Indian legal system in