{
  "id": 15559221,
  "title": "Profit-driven care blurs line between negligence and gross exploitation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/profit-driven-care-blurs-line-between-negligence-and-gross",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-19T04:41:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2026/10/1558782/profit-driven-care-blurs-line-between-negligence-and-gross"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Malaysia, a troubling trend emerges where profit-driven healthcare decisions blur the line between medical negligence and deliberate exploitation. Endocrinologists casually suggest thyroid removal for benign nodules, driven by insurance coverage rather than clinical necessity. This raises critical questions about where the line between standard medical errors and gross negligence lies under Malaysian tort law. While ordinary negligence stems from honest mistakes or failures to meet expected standards, gross negligence involves a reckless disregard for patient safety, often motivated by financial gain. In medical malpractice cases, distinguishing between these two forms of negligence is challenging, as both result from clinical errors. However, gross negligence demands a higher standard, requiring evidence of conscious disregard for risks or prioritisation of profits. This issue extends beyond individual cases to broader systemic concerns, with insurance policies encouraging unnecessary surgeries to avoid potential claims. Such practices not only endanger patients but also inflate healthcare costs. The focus must shift back to clinical necessity, with strong oversight from regulatory bodies and clear judicial standards to ensure patient safety remains paramount.",
  "summary": "MEDICAL overtreatments are an unresolved concern in our society and contribute to patient injury and increased costs.",
  "key_points": [
    "Profit-driven healthcare decisions blur line between negligence and exploitation",
    "Endocrinologists suggest thyroid removal for benign nodules based on insurance coverage",
    "Distinguishing between standard negligence and gross negligence is challenging in Malaysian tort law"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritising insurance payouts over clinical necessity transforms medical errors into systemic exploitation, forcing Malaysian courts to distinguish between honest mistakes and the reckless pursuit of profit.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}