New Delhi: In a move that will bring relief to the medical fraternity, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed in Lok Sabha of an amendment in the criminal law bill, which will exempt doctors from criminal prosecution in cases of death due to medical negligence. “Currently, if there is a death due to negligence of a doctor, it is also treated as criminal negligence, almost akin to murder. Hence, I will bring an official amendment now to free the doctors from this criminal negligence,” Shah said.
It is noteworthy that after the criminal law bill is amended the death of patients under a doctor’s care which is classified as criminal negligence under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code will cease to exist. The move found much appreciation from members of the medical associations and representatives of the doctors’ community.