Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Debate on judiciary fear hindering medical care
At a big meeting of doctors, they had a debate about whether doctors are scared of the courts and if this fear stops them from taking the best care of patients.
Most of the doctors there thought that this fear does stop them from giving the best care.
One doctor said that doctors are the only ones who can be taken to court in four different ways.
A retired judge said that doctors are only taken to court if they make a mistake.
Another doctor said that doctors sometimes do extra tests and treatments just to avoid being sued.
A lawyer said that doctors are only taken to court in very rare cases.
A former senator said that court decisions are not always fair.
A former journalist said that doctors should be more worried about people on social media than the courts.
In the end, most of the doctors agreed that the fear of the courts does stop them from giving the best care.
A debate was held at the 74th reunion of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital on whether the fear of the judiciary hinders medics from giving maximal care.
The majority of doctors voted in favor of the motion that fear of the judiciary hinders maximal care.
Doctors argued that they face litigation in multiple forums, including consumer, civil, and criminal courts, and sometimes from the police.
A retired judge countered that doctors are only taken to court if there is medical negligence.
A senior lawyer mentioned that criminal prosecution of doctors is rare and requires expert opinion.
A former senator criticized the unpredictability of judicial verdicts, while a former journalist advised doctors to be wary of social media activists.
- Who
- Doctors, former judge, senior advocate, former editor, and attendees of the 74th reunion of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital
- What
- A debate on whether the fear of the judiciary hinders medics from giving maximal care
- When
- Friday evening during the 74th reunion
- Where
- Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital
- Why
- To discuss the impact of judicial fear on medical care and the prevalence of medical negligence cases
- Event
- 74th reunion of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital
- Motion
- Fear of the judiciary hinders medics from giving maximal care
- Vote Result
- Overwhelming majority of doctors voted for the motion
- Key Speakers
- Kunal Sarkar, Samapti Chatterjee, Debraj Ghosh, Suranjan Dasgupta, Pradeep Gooptu
- Moderator
- Utpal Chatterjee
- Organizing Committee Members
- Subir Banerjee, Subhasree Sarkar
- Batch Organizing Reunion
- 1990 batch