Supreme Court news: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has said that a doctor’s liability for medical negligence does not end with his life, and legal heirs can be “impleaded” and “brought on record” in the matter.

A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar was hearing civil appeals arising from a long-running medical negligence dispute that had moved through consumer forums, including the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ( NCDRC ).

The matter pertained to an alleged botched-up eye surgery in 1990, following which a case was filed, but the doctor died during the pendency of the case.

“…we conclude that upon the death of the alleged medically negligent doctor, his/her legal heirs can be impleaded and brought on record.…