August,20,2016:
Supreme Court has asked the Govt. to respond to a plea seeking guidelines for private hospitals to provide families regular health information about the treatment of patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) or Coronary Care Units (CCU).
The Apex Court Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra & Justice U.U. Lalit has sought information from the Centre, the States & the Medical Council of India (MCI) after a petition filed by a person who lost his daughter-in-law due to alleged negligence on the part of the doctors who were treating her at a private hospital situated in West Bengal.
The Bench drew special attention to the dilemma of the family members of critically ill patients in the private hospitals. Friends or relatives of patients, who spend hours waiting outside ICUs & CCUs of private hospitals, mostly don't have any idea about what treatment is being administered to their loved ones.
The Apex Court Bench has asked for answer within 6 weeks, and also added that those who suffer from negligence on the part of the hospital or doctor could move consumer forums for compensation if information about treatment was held back.
Supreme Court’s order has come on plea of one Asit Baran Mandal, a resident of West Bengal, who alleged that there was negligence in post-operation care on the part of doctor treating his daughter-in-law which resulted in her death.
Picture Source :
