medico-legal question

Query- If following a RTA, patient has sustained a fracture but patient and relatives are not interested in informing police and are ready to give it in written,then,
-is it still mandatory for the doctor to inform police
-is that written statement by the patient party valid in the court if patient goes on to file a case against the third party after few days.

Answer- if patient is conscious and does not want MLC in RTA case , you can treat as non-MLC case but get his statement recorded in your records to avoid future litigations. If patient in unconscious, even if relatives ask you to treat as non-MLC , do not listen to them and make case as MLC. Ask relatives to contact police who may drop proceedings if facts of the case warrant so. Medical Officer has no choice but to make it MLC.

Written statement that he does not want MLC is valid in law only when he says so in court of law. He may deny it also. But doctor is safe if it is signed by patient himself.