Relative Doctor No Bar to Insurance Claim, Rules Surat Court

• Surat Consumer Court ruled that insurance companies cannot deny claims solely because the treating doctor is a relative of the patient.
• The court stated that choosing one's doctor, even a family member, is a fundamental right.
• This decision stemmed from a case where an insurer rejected a 1.91 lakh rupee claim for a 57-year-old woman's husband, citing an exclusion clause for relative doctors.
• The court ordered the insurance company to pay the full medical bill, plus compensation for mental distress and application fees.

Why It Matters: Insurers can't deny claims if a relative is the doctor, protecting policyholder rights.