Rising Negligence Allegations Push Doctors Toward Defensive Medicine in Kerala

A series of alleged medical negligence cases across Kerala has left young doctors anxious, particularly those posted in emergency and critical care units. Within professional forums and WhatsApp groups, many have been discussing ways to reduce legal and personal risks, with defensive medicine increasingly emerging as a preferred approach. Dr Ashik Basheer, state president of the General Practitioners Association, said young doctors fear being branded negligent early in their careers and even facing attacks. As a result, many are opting for additional diagnostic tests, such as CT scans for all head injury cases, to avoid future dispute-even if observation might suffice. Some are also exploring job opportunities abroad due to mounting pressure, TNIE reported.

Senior practitioners are not immune to the shift. Dr Sunil P K, president of the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association, noted that even experienced doctors are becoming risk-averse, leading to unnecessary referrals and higher costs for patients. While associations reject what they term false allegations, they maintain that genuine cases should be investigated by competent authorities. Meanwhile, Mamal Hospital defended its treatment in the death of a two-year-old child, stating that emergency protocols were followed, though the family disputes the explanation.