Publication:

Medical negligence in assisted reproductive technology: a comparative legislative analysis of India and selected jurisdictions

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has rapidly advanced treatment of infertility and created new forms of medical malpractice that strain existing legal structures. This study investigates the treatment of medical malpractice with ART and analyzes the cases of India, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, and New Zealand. This examination is both doctrinal and comparative. It studies primary legal documents, such as statutes, regulation, and case law, and focuses on recent publications. Common themes of negligence include failure to obtain informed consent, confused identity of embryos, false representation regarding success rates, violation of medical confidentiality, and insufficient regulatory oversight of fertility clinics. Based on comparisons, states with systems of independent accreditation and ethics - driven oversight have stronger protections. The ART Regulation Act, 2021 is a major improvement for India, but has significant shortcomings concerning negligence and compensation issues in ART. Clearer definitions and thresholds of negligence and stronger regulations and oversight of ART with mandatory periodic inspections and grievance redress mechanisms are needed to protect the rights of ART clients in India.