SC dismisses plea to direct doctors to specify side effects of medicines in prescriptions

The Supreme Court in the case Jacob Vadakkanchery Versus Union Of India And Anr observed and has dismissed the petition filed seeking mandatory disclosure by medical professionals or doctors of risks and adverse effects associated with drugs they prescribe to patients.

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The petitioner in the plea sought a direction that all medical professionals should specify to patients, which being in the form of an additional slip in the regional language along with the prescription, all kinds of possible risks and side effects associated with a drug or a pharmaceutical product being prescribed.

The bench comprising of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan was hearing the present matter.

The bench in the case passed the order after hearing the counsel, Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for the Petitioner, who argued that a large part of harm to patients is associated with adverse effects of medicines.