The Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), Telangana has expressed concern over a recent Supreme Court judgment which held that compensation proceedings in medical negligence cases may continue even after the death of a doctor, with legal heirs being impleaded to the extent of the inherited estate.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (May 6), the association said that while it respected the constitutional authority of the Supreme Court, the wider implications of the verdict on the medical profession and the families of doctors required urgent national discussion and legislative reconsideration.

HRDA stated that medical practice involved highly specialised and individual professional responsibility, often requiring complex clinical decision-making under stressful and emergency conditions. “Extending litigation to family members who were not involved in patient care could cause emotional, financial and psychological distress to the dependents of deceased doctors,” they said.

The association further said the judgment could aggravate the existing atmosphere of fear and insecurity among healthcare professionals, who were already facing violence, criminal prosecution, prolonged litigation, social media harassment and professional burnout. It warned that such developments might contribute to defensive medical practice and discourage young doctors from entering high-risk specialities and underserved rural healthcare sectors.

The association urged the Union Government, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Medical Commission (NMC) and other stakeholders to examine the long-term implications of the judgment on healthcare delivery systems in India and work towards a balanced legal framework that protected both patient rights and medical professionals.