Test for medical negligence

Bolam’s test
Test for medical negligence.
It has 2 parts:

  1. ‘ If a doctor reaches the standard of a responsible body of medical opinion, he is not negligent even if some specialist holds a contrary view’
  2. A man need not possess the highest expert skill. It is sufficient if he exercises the ordinary skill of an ordinary competent man exercising that particular art.

This means that if there are two schools of thought like one where ECT is recommended and other where ECT is not recommended for a certain illness and the doctor follows one (say ECT recommended) then he cannot be held negligent even if somebody else is holding a different view (ECT not recommended).

The doctor is required to be competent that is having sufficient skill of an ordinary doctor. He is not required to be exceptional or extraordinary or best in his field. Means your skill should not be compared with the best in the field but with any other ordinary competent doctor.