In Brief
A patient underwent gall bladder surgery by a doctor who switched to open surgery after difficulty identifying anatomical structures. Post-operative bile leak developed; the doctor drained it without investigating the cause, then delayed referring the patient to a specialist by eight days. The patient eventually died from sepsis and multi-organ failure. The National Commission found medical negligence on multiple grounds: ignoring persistent pain complaints, failing to investigate the leak's source, delaying specialist referral despite lacking competence in ERCP, and failing to obtain informed consent. The Supreme Court upheld these findings, holding that standard medical practice required earlier investigation and timely referral. The doctor was ordered to pay Rs. 7 lakh compensation with 6% interest.
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