Sometimes, doctors encounter a situation where admitted patient absconds from the hospital in the middle of his/ her treatment. He walks away from the hospital or if the patient is minor, the caretaker takes away the patient from the hospital without obtaining discharge or any document from the hospital. Can the treating doctor or the hospital be held liable for his absconding?
Can the treating doctor or the hospital be held liable (criminal/ civil) for any complication(s) which are reported by the patient after absconding from the hospital? Are there any formulated guidelines for doctors in India to manage this situation?
