Hospitals cannot hold patients hostage for unpaid bills: Delhi HC to Gangaram Hospital

The ruling came in a habeas corpus plea moved by the son of the patient, a former Madhya Pradesh policeman who was admitted in the hospital for treatment in February.

The ex-cop was suffering from enterocutaneous fistula, which occurs in the intestinal tract due to which contents of the stomach or intestines leak through to the skin. The treatment includes surgery.

The patient's son had alleged that the hospital was holding his father hostage to extract money from him towards outstanding dues of Rs 13.45 lakh, an amount that he has disputed.

He had also alleged that the hospital was not giving proper treatment to his father and when he sought to take him away, it did not allow him to do so.

The hospital opposed the petitioner's contentions and claimed that he had raised the grievance as the patient was shifted to the general ward from private ward due to non- payment of dues. It said the total bill was of Rs 16.75 lakh and the petitioner had only paid Rs 3.3 lakh.

Despite the outstanding dues, a surgery was carried out on the patient on April 21 after being shifted to the general ward, the hospital said.

The petitioner said the surgery was carried out after he had lodged a police complaint on April 20.