V K GHODEKAR Vs. SUMITRA PRALHAD KORGAONKAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE questions which require consideration in this revision petition are: (a) Whether a medical practioner before prescribing a drug, which has side effects, should be careful or not in informing the patient about its side effects such as hypoglycemia etc. ? (b) Whether, a doctor should give treatment for diabetes to a person who is alcoholic, straightway on the basis of urine test report, without confirming by proper pathological test that the patient is suffering from diabetes and thereafter without informing the patient that the medicine should be taken before food and alcohol should be avoided?

(2.) IN our view, it is the duty of the doctor, before prescribing diabetic drug, to inform the patient about the side effects of a drug, particularly to an alcoholic person and he should be informed that alcohol may increase sugar level and that diabetic drug should be taken before food.

(3.) IF is not done it will be a deficiency in service.