The Supreme Court on Friday directed Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to provide comprehensive medical treatment to an acid attack survivor who suffered injuries to both eyes, irrespective of the expenses involved, and restrained the hospital from discharging her until doctors certify that she is medically fit.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the directions after a woman appearing in person on behalf of the survivor brought the matter to the court's attention, alleging that the hospital was threatening to discharge the patient despite her need for specialised treatment.
The bench directed the hospital management to continue treating the survivor as an indoor patient and provide all necessary medical facilities, including medicines and plastic surgery, whenever required, without making the cost of treatment a consideration.
Survivor faced discharge
The matter was mentioned before the bench around 4 pm, when the woman representing the survivor informed the court that the patient was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after sustaining serious injuries to both eyes in an acid attack.
She alleged that the hospital was seeking to discharge the survivor on the ground that it lacked the specialised facilities required for her treatment.
The court was also informed that Apollo Hospital had been approached but had declined to admit the survivor. The woman submitted that the patient did not wish to be shifted to a government hospital and wanted to continue receiving treatment at a private medical institution.
Referring to previous Supreme Court directions concerning the rights of acid attack survivors, she argued that victims were entitled to receive treatment at private hospitals of their choice.
Responding to the submissions, Chief Justice Kant indicated that the survivor should remain at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where she was already undergoing treatment.
"Ganga Ram mei hai, toh wahin rakhte hain (if she is in Ganga Ram, then let her be there only)," the Chief Justice observed.
The woman agreed but requested that, if a transfer became necessary, the survivor should be allowed to receive treatment at Apollo Hospital.
Treatment irrespective of expenses
Taking note of the submissions, the bench directed Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to provide all medical assistance required by the survivor, including medicines, plastic surgery and other necessary procedures.
The court made it clear that the hospital must continue treatment regardless of the financial expenditure involved.
It further directed that the survivor should not be discharged until the treating doctors certify that she is fit to leave the hospital and requires only outpatient care.
The direction followed the allegation that the hospital had sought to discharge the patient despite her continuing medical needs. The court did not make a final finding on the allegations against either hospital.
Hospital may submit bills
Addressing the question of medical expenses, the Supreme Court permitted Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to forward the bills incurred during the survivor's treatment to the court.
The bench said the bills could be placed before it for appropriate directions regarding reimbursement, ensuring that financial considerations would not delay or interrupt the patient's treatment.
The arrangement allows the hospital to seek reimbursement through judicial directions while requiring it to provide necessary medical care in the meantime.
The court also directed its Registry to register the representation made by the woman appearing in person as an application in the pending proceedings concerning the rights, treatment and rehabilitation of acid attack survivors.
Court monitoring survivors' rights
The directions form part of the Supreme Court's continuing examination of the medical care, compensation and rehabilitation available to acid attack survivors across the country.
In earlier proceedings, the court had sought information from states and Union Territories about schemes providing treatment in government and private hospitals, along with arrangements for compensation and rehabilitation.
The court has also examined delays in financial assistance and the need for stronger institutional mechanisms to ensure that survivors receive timely medical care.
Friday's order reinforced the obligation to provide uninterrupted treatment to an acid attack survivor while leaving questions concerning reimbursement to be addressed through further judicial directions.