Shri Gopal Kabra Director Clinical, Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Vivekanshu Verma Associate Consultant, Department of Emergency and Trauma Care, Medanta - The Medicity, Gurugram, India
Address for correspondence: Shri Gopal Kabra, Director Clinical, Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India E-mail: kabrasg@hotmail.com
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RFP Indian Journal of Hospital Infection
3(1):p 35-45, January-June 2026. | DOI: NA
How Cite This Article:
Vivekanshu Verma, Shri Gopal Kabra. Uncontrollable Immune Crisis Cascades in Medicine: A Medico-Legal Defense Framework. RFP Ind. Jr. Hosp. Inf., 2026; 3(1): 35-45.
Timeline
Received : January 15, 2026
Accepted : February 18, 2026
Published : June 30, 2026
Abstract
Fatalities in clinical practice may arise from autonomous immune crisis cascades that are biologically uncontrollable and independent of physician conduct. These cascades typically begin with a cytokine storm, progress to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and culminate in multiorgan failure (MOF). Once triggered, the process is self-perpetuating, resistant to therapeutic intervention, and irreversible despite maximal supportive care. Such crises are unpredictable, unforeseeable, and not treatment-induced, making attribution of liability to the treating physician medically unsound and legally unjust. This pleading seeks judicial recognition of these syndromes as recognized uncontrollable fatal pathways, thereby protecting practitioners from wrongful negligence claims.
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Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest in this work.
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Cite this article
Vivekanshu Verma, Shri Gopal Kabra. Uncontrollable Immune Crisis Cascades in Medicine: A Medico-Legal Defense Framework. RFP Ind. Jr. Hosp. Inf., 2026; 3(1): 35-45.
This license enables
reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium
or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is
given to the creator.
This license enables
reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium
or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is
given to the creator.