Criminal medical negligence under “The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023”

On December 25, 2023, the law relating to criminal prosecution of doctors for medical negligence in India was changed significantly when the President of India gave her assent to the “Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023”. However, both events inside and outside the Parliament during the discussions on the new law have sparked confusion among doctors, leading to a controversy that seems far from settling. This article aims to provide clarity on whether doctors can be punished for criminal medical negligence under the new law.