A Comparative Analysis of Medical Negligence Compensation in Sri Lanka for the Protection of Patients

Abstract

Sri Lanka provides free health service to all the persons in the country through establishing and maintaining nearly five hundred government hospitals in every province and district. Sri Lanka scored 76th place in World Health Organization statistics with higher regional life expectancy and lower maternal and infant death rate. This study analyzed the level of duty of care maintained by the trained medical staffs in Sri Lanka, in order to secure the betterment of the patients. The situations had reported where mistakes and errors of medical professionals’ duties lead to physical, mental injuries or even a death of their patient. But, in practical a handful of medical negligence litigations are hardly to find out. In this research journey, both primary and secondary medico-legal sources were attracted to follow the qualitative research method. Finally, the study analysed the success stories of consumer protection, insurances, and strict liability in other jurisdictions with comparative jurisdictions.