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Uncontrollable Immune Crisis Cascades in Medicine: A Medico-Legal Defense Framework

Shri Gopal Kabra, Vivekanshu Verma

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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.


Licence:

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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.


Received Accepted Published
January 15, 2026 February 18, 2026 June 30, 2026

DOI: NA

Keywords

Cytokine StormImmune Crisis CascadeSystemic Inflammatory ResponseEnd-of-Life SyndromesMedical LiabilityUncontrollable FatalityMedicoLegal DefensePhysician ProtectionDisseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)Multiorgan Failure (MOF)

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Received January 15, 2026
Accepted February 18, 2026
Published June 30, 2026

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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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.


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