Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Non-delegable duty of care

Legal area

Court

4 Sept 2025

Evelyn Sharmini a/p Mariasoosay Nathan 1. ) Yogaraj Ramananthan 2. ) Sentosa Medical Centre Sdn Bhd

Citation

WA-22NCvC-245-04/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-22NCvC-245-04/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The court found D1 negligent for failing to advise on available conservative treatments, failing to disclose material risks (not obtaining valid informed consent), and for operating beyond his demonstrated competence without ensuring appropriate surgical assistance; the hospital (D2) breached its non-delegable duty by failing to credential D1 though it was not held vicariously liable for D1's acts; consequential causation between breaches and the plaintiff's injuries was established and damages assessed accordingly.
19 Jun 2024

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Mohd Hussin Bin Abd Hamid XXXX

Citation

W-02(NCvC)(W)-1000-06/2022 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

NCvC
Case number

W-02(NCvC)(W)-1000-06/2022 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

The judge would dismiss the appeal: the trial judge correctly preferred the avulsion theory on evidence, the arterial avulsion was an exceptionally rare and unforeseeable complication not attributable to breach of professional standard, the specific risk need not have been warned under Rogers v Whitaker, and the hospital did not owe a non-delegable duty because the patient had directly chosen the consultant.
5 Apr 2024

Nurul Iman binti Abu Mansor 1. ) Gleneagles Hospital (Kuala Lumpur) Sdn Bhd 2. ) Dato' Sri Dr Zulkharnain Ismail

Citation

WA-22NCvC-457-08/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-22NCvC-457-08/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

On the balance of probabilities the court found that the 2nd Defendant negligently transected the Plaintiff's median nerve during the January 2018 operation, that there was delay in diagnosis and remedial treatment, and that the 1st Defendant owed and breached a non-delegable duty of care and is liable; the 1st Defendant's claim for contribution/indemnity against the 2nd Defendant (Enclosure 9) was dismissed.
23 Feb 2024

Siow Ching Yee COLUMBIA ASIA SDN BHD AMICUS CURIE 1. ) Persatuan Hospital Swasta Malaysia (Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia) 2. ) Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)

Citation

02(f)-12-02/2023(B) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
Court

f
Case number

02(f)-12-02/2023(B) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)

The Federal Court held that Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd, as a private hospital licensed and operating routine emergency services under Act 586, owed a personal non-delegable duty of care to the patient; the five Woodland features were satisfied (patient vulnerability, antecedent statutory and factual relationship, lack of patient control, delegation of integral functions, and negligence in performance), so the independent contractor defence failed. The statutory framework (Act 586 and Regulations) establishes the hospital’s responsibility for treatment and care. Quantum was adjusted: multiplicand m…
13 Dec 2022

HEMRAJ & CO SDN BHD TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD

Citation

02(f)-65-11/2021(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
Court

f
Case number

02(f)-65-11/2021(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)

The Federal Court held that the excavation and sewage connection were routine residential works that were not 'exceptionally dangerous whatever precautions are taken'; proper precautions (utility mapping) would have removed the material risk; consequently no non-delegable duty was owed by the homeowner to TNB and the appeals of the lower courts imposing such a duty were set aside.
22 Feb 2022

Nik Azlee Bin Nik Mohd Affandi 1. ) Dr Nik Muzaiman Bin Mustapha 2. ) Dr Shamsul Kahar Bin Kamarul Ghani 3. ) Dr Mahayidin Bin Muhamad 4. ) Perdana Specialist Hospital Sdn. Bhd. (juga dikenali sebagai KPJ Perdana Specialist Hospital)

Citation

DA-22NCvC-22-06/2017 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

DA-22NCvC-22-06/2017 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Application dismissed because plaintiff failed to justify approximately 14 months' delay and did not provide cogent reasons or bona fides for extensive amendments which would effectively overhaul and change the character of the claim; the prejudice to defendants could not be shown to be compensable by costs and the proposed amendments appeared tactical and abusive of process.
17 Jun 2021

1. ) HEMRAJ & CO SDN BHD 2. ) GIRISH CHANDRA A/L HEMRAJ SHASTRI 1. ) TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD 2. ) CHRISTOPHER LOW WENG CHEONG 3. ) HIAP LECK CONSTRUCTION & TRADING (m) SDN BHD 4. ) Lau Hor Tek

Citation

W-02(NCvC)(W)-2256-11/2018 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

NCvC
Case number

W-02(NCvC)(W)-2256-11/2018 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

Excavation on a public road carried out without required permits, utility mapping and oversight constitutes a hazardous activity engaging a non-delegable duty of care; therefore the employer (Hemraj) is liable for negligent acts of its independent contractors and jointly liable with those tortfeasors despite delegation.

Malaysia Case Law

Evelyn Sharmini a/p Mariasoosay Nathan 1. ) Yogaraj Ramananthan 2. ) Sentosa Medical Centre Sdn Bhd

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Mohd Hussin Bin Abd Hamid XXXX

Nurul Iman binti Abu Mansor 1. ) Gleneagles Hospital (Kuala Lumpur) Sdn Bhd 2. ) Dato' Sri Dr Zulkharnain Ismail

Siow Ching Yee COLUMBIA ASIA SDN BHD AMICUS CURIE 1. ) Persatuan Hospital Swasta Malaysia (Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia) 2. ) Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)

HEMRAJ & CO SDN BHD TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD

Nik Azlee Bin Nik Mohd Affandi 1. ) Dr Nik Muzaiman Bin Mustapha 2. ) Dr Shamsul Kahar Bin Kamarul Ghani 3. ) Dr Mahayidin Bin Muhamad 4. ) Perdana Specialist Hospital Sdn. Bhd. (juga dikenali sebagai KPJ Perdana Specialist Hospital)

1. ) HEMRAJ & CO SDN BHD 2. ) GIRISH CHANDRA A/L HEMRAJ SHASTRI 1. ) TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD 2. ) CHRISTOPHER LOW WENG CHEONG 3. ) HIAP LECK CONSTRUCTION & TRADING (m) SDN BHD 4. ) Lau Hor Tek