Transfer of Patients to Higher Centre – The Medico- Legal Implications

Do no harm is the primary motto of any physician. Anaesthesiologists who are involved in managing critical patients need to be knowledgeable in terms of safe transfer of patients between hospitals. The present article answers the common legal implications of referral, precautions to be taken during referral or transfer and the guidelines on who should accompany patients during transfer. The differentiation of needs during intra or inter-hospital transfer and the pre-hospital transfer is also discussed. We also present some landmark judgements while discussing the medico-legal aspects of intra and interhospital transfer.