Counselling, especially before performing an intervention, could turn out to be a key factor in making patients / attendants aware about medical facts and about the possible outcomes of the procedure. This could perhaps reduce number of avoidable litigations, such as this one.

The rate at which patients / attendants are suing healthcare providers is steadily rising. And with it, the kind of allegations levelled against them is also getting bizarre.

The patient, a practicing doctor, underwent total knee replacement (TKR) surgery of left leg performed by an orthopaedic surgeon. Unfortunately, it developed severe infection. Despite debridement, the infection could not be controlled. Eventually, the leg was amputated at another hospital by another doctor.

Deviating from protocol, especially during an elective surgery, without taking informed consent of patient / attendants is medical negligence, as was case in this widely reported story.

This is yet another instance of mismanagement of medical records – a non-procedural aspect of medicine for which doctor and hospital were held negligent. There were other factors also that went against them, but improper way of making notes and managing medical records was the main reason.

Being prepared for known post-surgery complications, especially the ones involved with keeping blood ready is a treatment protocol and legal necessity. Not doing so could be ruled as medical negligence, as happened in this case.

The patient in this case dragged the doctor to consumer court for what he thought was a case of medical negligence. As it turned out, his unfounded belief was far from medical facts.

In yet another instance, a doctor was sued by patient’s family for the unfortunate outcome of a procedure. Such incidents are rising at an alarming rate. The healthcare community and patient rights groups must come together to form a robust grievance / disputes / counselling systems to reduce the number of such unfortunate events.