September 23, 2017

“Given the availability of websites & internet connectivity, it’d appear justified if all information in  regard to bed occupancy is made available to the public”

Shocked at the report of death of a newborn in a govt. hospital, the Delhi HC on Friday took suo motu notice of the incident.

A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal & Justice C Hari Shankar also recommended putting all the information on bed occupancy & other facilities online, so that the patients know where the nearest best medical assistance could be availed.

The bench observed, “Perhaps if this info. was available to the family of the newborn in the case, the life of the child could’ve been saved.”

It said that the report “highlights difficulties faced by patients for want of information regarding facilities & capacity of the hospitals & also the status about the utilization of these facilities on any public platform,” the High Court observed, adding that such info. would ‘obviate’ distress to the public & ‘ensure availability’ of medical help at the earliest.

HC acted after adv. Ashok Aggarwal brought to its notice the news report that a newborn died as the family failed to get ventilator-fitted bed in 4 govt. hospitals. It issued notice to the Centre, the Delhi govt. & the 3 corporations, who run hospitals in Delhi.

“Given the availability of websites & internet connectivity, it’d appear justified if all information in this regard especially, the position with regard to bed occupancy at a particular point of time is made available to the public,” HC said. The HC asked the authorities concerned to examine the issue & file their report within 4 weeks and fixed the matter for further hearing on November 21.

The report stated the newborn girl died at the Jag Pravesh Chandra hospital in Delhi as it din’t have ventilator support, while the 3 other government hospitals had refused admission saying that no critical care beds were available.

As per a report, the baby, after a normal birth on 20th September, was diagnosed with birth asphyxia which causes less oxygen to go to the brain and necessitates ventilator support.