Delhi: HC orders Govt to Form panel to look into problems faced by patients at Fortis Vasantkunj

The plea said that as a result of the order, the petitioners and other similarly placed patients were faced with extremely high risk to their lives since other hospitals and treatment facilities were also refusing treatment.

"... while there is a need to increase the treatment capacity for COVID-19 in view of the rising number of infections, the respondents (authorities) failed to appreciate that directing registered private hospitals/nursing homes to reserve 100% of their bed capacity for COVID-19 patients is arbitrary and will not achieve the desired objective," the plea said.

The plea averred that the Delhi government had failed to consider the medical needs and conditions of existing patients such as the petitioners, and the said order had endangered their lives by failing to make alternative arrangements for their treatment.

"... the respondents failed to appreciate that many of the hospitals are providing super specialised treatment in the fields of oncology, dialysis, trauma, spine, cardiology, acute/chronic diseases etc. By directing that such hospitals and treatment facilities will be wholly dedicated for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, the order has arbitrarily disregarded the consideration and concerns of pre-existing patients in such hospitals, most (if not all) of whom are suffering from life-threatening and critical illnesses," the plea said.

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