'RTPCR Report Not Mandatory In Emergency Cases': Telangana High Court On Reports Of Pregnant Woman Dying Due To Denial Of Hospital Admission

The remarks were made by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy in view of reports of a pregnant woman, who died in an ambulance in Hyderabad on Friday, after being denied admission by several hospitals.

The Court has asked the State to ensure that citizens are not made to run for hospitals and to advise all Government hospitals to not insist on RTPCR report before admitting an emergency case for treatment.

It has also asked the Director General of Police to ensure that all the Commissioners / Superintendents of Police and other Senior officers of Police sensitize their units at all filed levels, to ensure that anybody approaching them for admission to a Government hospital are given all necessary assistance to avoid loss of life.

It said that the Police helpdesks that he been set up near hospitals may also be passed on similar instructions.

The matter was mentioned before the Bench by an Advocate, who stated that even the Government Maternity Hospital at Hyderabad denied admission to the pregnant woman who was already in labour. He urged that the errant officers may be held guilty for medical negligence.

At this juncture, Justice Reddy recollected that a similar incident had occurred last year in April, where a pregnant lady died en-route Hyderabad as she was denied admission by hospitals in Kurnool District.

He said that the High Court had taken serious note of the matter and had asked the state government to ensure that while fighting Covid-19, other emergencies like pregnancies are not ignored in hospitals.

Despite these orders, the Bench noted, the hospitals are denying admission to emergency patients leading to loss of life.

To be Updated with Order