HC asks Govt to probe refusal charge against hospital

Delhi high court has asked the AAP government to probe allegations against a private hospital that it forced out a physically disabled woman, suspected to be suffering from Covid-19, to another hospital citing lack of beds.

Justice Navin Chawla, who conducted the hearing through videoconferencing, said the allegations are of “grave nature” while ordering an investigation.

“As allegations made by the petitioner (patient’s father) against the Primus Super Speciality Hospital, Chanakyapuri, are of a grave nature, Delhi government is directed to carry out an investigation into the same and in case the hospital is found to have derogated in its duty in any manner, take appropriate action. I may, however, clarify that this court has not expressed any opinion on the allegations made by the petitioner,” the judge said in an order passed on Friday.

The court’s direction came on a petition filed by a man whose wife died on June 14 due to Covid-19. He alleged that when his 34-year-old daughter — who is 85% permanently disabled — was suffering from fever and breathlessness and her oxygen level also started dipping, she was admitted to the hospital on June 18.

However, the hospital did not carry out any test on her and citing non-availability of beds, asked her father to shift her to another hospital.

“She was almost thrown out of the hospital. This was in spite of the fact that the website of Delhi government showed availability of beds in the said hospital for Covid-19 patients,” the petition said, informing the court that only after moving court he was able to secure a bed for his daughter at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Saket.

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