Doctors are judged by decisions, not outcomes.
Issue -
October - 2026, Posted On: 01 October 2026
When a critically ill patient deteriorates despite treatment, it is natural for grieving families to question every medical decision made in the intensive care setting. But the law draws an important distinction between an unsuccessful outcome and negligent treatment. In a recent decision, the Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission reaffirmed that emergency medical interventions cannot be judged solely because the patient did not survive.
An 82-year-old man with a history of heart disease, urinary stricture and severe urinary infection was admitted under the care of a urologist after his condition failed to improve despite antibiotic therapy. To control the source of infection, the treating doctor removed the suprapubic catheter and performed an Optical Internal Urethrotomy with bladder wash under antibiotic cover. However, the patient's condition continued to worsen as sepsis progressed.
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