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Justice Delayed: Patient Complaints Halt Amidst Medical Council Crisis
11 Feb
Summary
- Delhi Medical Council dissolution has halted patient complaint resolutions.
- Over 1,800 medical negligence complaints are pending due to the defunct council.
- Patients currently lack an effective mechanism for grievance redressal.
The dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) in June 2025 has brought the resolution of medical negligence complaints to a standstill. Madan Gautam's case, involving the death of his newborn daughter in March 2024 due to alleged negligence, highlights this issue. His complaint, initially forwarded to the DMC, is now stalled.
The DMC was dissolved by the Lieutenant Governor due to serious administrative and financial irregularities, leaving an estimated 1,800-2,000 complaints pending. While the Health Department was directed to reconstitute the council within two months, a special audit in December 2025 further complicated matters.
Currently, local hospitals are tasked with investigating complaints, but they lack the legal authority to implement disciplinary actions. The absence of the DMC's disciplinary committees means that even after investigations, no conclusive action can be taken, leaving patients without an effective grievance redressal mechanism. The reconstitution of the council through elections is anticipated, with committees functioning to examine complaints in the interim.
