On National Doctor's Day, doctors from various levels of the profession expressed dissatisfaction with a specific section of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) law, which imposes harsher penalties for medical negligence. The law mandates a five-year jail term and a fine for doctors found guilty of negligence not amounting to culpable homicide, replacing the previous Indian Penal Code provisions that allowed for a fine or up to two years in jail. Medical professionals from the Delhi Medical Council voiced concerns that the new law would deter doctors from treating critically ill patients due to fear of severe legal repercussions.
The medical community has emphasized that the new law could lead to unjust punishment for doctors acting in patients' best interests. Despite assurances from the government that amendments would relieve doctors from criminal negligence charges, the law…
