Introducing Indian Medical Ethics (IME): Challenging medical negligence and misconduct in India

Medical negligence, misconduct, and preventable harm remain persistent challenges in healthcare systems worldwide. These challenges are often compounded by weak transparency and limited accountability. In India, these problems are further shaped by fragmented processes for recognising, documenting, and addressing negligence, misconduct, and malpractice. This article introduces Indian Medical Ethics (IME), a public health initiative formally launched on 28 January 2026 to examine, challenge, and address medical negligence, misconduct, and malpractice in Indian healthcare. IME pursues this aim through patient-safety literacy, evidence-based public discussion, and advocacy for governance mechanisms that reduce preventable harm and support fair processes. IME examines how medical negligence, misconduct, and malpractice arise in everyday healthcare practice. It distinguishes unavoidable adverse outcomes from negligent or unethical conduct, and draws attention to both individual actions and the systems that enable preventable harm. By framing medical ethics as a public health concern, IME seeks to strengthen accountability and contribute to more trustworthy healthcare systems in India.