Treatment denial to pregnant woman at hospitals

PR / IH News Desk

SHILLONG, July 09 2020: Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) headed by its Chairperson Justice T Vaiphei has taken suo motu cognizance of a news item published in “The Shillong Times” on July 7 under the caption “Clan criticizes state hospitals”.

The news report inter alia highlights the complaint made by the Kur Khyndeit Pyllun where a pregnant woman was made to shuttle between various hospitals in the State during an emergency and refused admission in Nongpoh Civil Hospital, H Gordon Robert Hospital, Nazareth Hospital and both the Shillong and Nongpoh branches of Bethany Hospital and eventually delivered the baby inside a 108 Emergency Services Ambulance.

The instant case appears to have resulted in gross human rights violation of the patient where Article 21 of the Constitution mandates for protection of life and personal liberty for every person within the territory of India.

Right to life is a fundamental right and it is paramount duty of the State to protect and safeguard such rights of any individual. It is appalling under what circumstances the patient was denied admission in a hospital run by the State Government and manned public servants as defined under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Commission has sought a report from the Chief Secretary, Meghalaya to report on the circumstances under which the patient was denied admission in the Nongpoh Civil Hospital and also in the privately-run hospitals in the State.