Private Hospital, Interpreter swindles Yemen-based couple during son's treatment; Delhi HC orders probe

New Delhi: Days after Delhi High Court ordered the Delhi police to respond to a petition which alleged that Max Super Speciality Hospital Patparganj and an interpreter swindled money and withheld passports from a Yemen-based couple and their child, who was admitted here for treatment, the Delhi Police stated that they have begun the investigation in the case. 

The incident is reported to have taken place in April and May because of which the family got fleeced and they were unable to return to their country, reports the Indian Express. 

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The petition was filed by Mahfoodh Qasem Ali Amer Al Garadi who sought the court's intervention in returning the passports of his wife and infant son. He further requested the court to direct the setting up of a medical board to determine the present medical condition of his child, who was operated on twice at the hospital. The court had taken note of the complaint made by the Yemen embassy in India in connection with this case on July 11 and had subsequently asked the police to respond to the petition. 

The complaint sent by the embassy to Max hospital on June 10 alleges that the patient should have been treated at a cost of 7,000-7,500 US dollars, however, the child's parents were forced to pay double the money in the name of treatment. Further, the complaint stated that the hospital and interpreter identified as Lubna Alysed (Lubna Mohammad) did not give them any bills and they also withheld the passports of the mother and son. 

A counsel representing the police stated that they have recorded the complainant's statement and the investigation is closely monitored by the Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned. The hospital, during the last hearing being held on July 11 told the court that it does not have the passports of the petitioner's wife and child. 

The police also confirmed that the passports are not with the hospital and it might be with the interpreter. They said that a probe is ongoing on how the passports might have reached the interpreter, adding that there seems to be a nexus between the interpreter and the hospital. 

The complaint stated that the hospital had earlier confirmed that Alysed would be blacklisted since she had allegedly cheated another Yemeni patient earlier. The Yemen Embassy also sent a complaint to the police in this regard. 

The petition observed that child was suffering from a congenital problem and the family had arrived in India in April for the treatment. The child was admitted on April 14 and the first operation took place on April 20. But the child was again admitted to the hospital in May for a second surgery after his health deteriorated. The petition alleged that the hospital and the interpreter took a lot of money from them when their child was admitted. 

The petition states, "As the petitioner had drained out financially and had no money to pay towards the exorbitant demands of the hospital and interpreter, he requested the hospital to discharge the infant patient." The complainant alleged that he was forced to pay more than 3,000 US dollars at the hospital counter and given leave against medical advice. 

As per the petition, the mother's and child's passports were taken by the hospital on May 17 on the pretext of some formalities, following which the family took the matter to the embassy, reports the Indian Express. It said that the hospital paid some bills in June due to the repeated follow-up by the embassy and the family. 

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