Delhi HC directs LNJP Hospital to treat HIV-Positive Transwoman without ID Proof
Delhi High Court
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed Lok Nayak Hospital to provide the necessary treatment to an HIV-positive transwoman, regardless of her absence of identity documents. The petitioner had sought shelter from multiple NGOs but was turned away due to the absence of ID proof.
Justice Sanjeev Narula issued notice to the Delhi government and the Centre on her plea and issued directions towards her rehabilitation and shelter.
According to the PTI report, the court said on December 24, “Issue notice.. By way of this order a direction is issued to respondent number 4 (Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi) to examine the petitioner and in case she would need any treatment, the same be provided to her forthwith, notwithstanding the petitioner’s lack of identification documents.”
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The petitioner said she was abducted by a trafficker when she was a minor and sexually abused, and the doctors at Lok Nayak Hospital suggested her admission to undergo treatment.
The court further directed the Centre to inform if she could be provided any skill training for her rehabilitation and asked the authorities concerned to find her a suitable shelter keeping in mind her health condition and the dipping mercury levels in Delhi.
The petitioner had approached several NGOs seeking shelter but faced rejection due to no official identity proof.
The court would hear the matter on January 9.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Delhi High Court has mandated that all government and private hospitals provide free medical treatment to victims of sexual violence, acid attacks, and rape. The court made this observation while hearing the case of a 16-year-old rape survivor who was made to wait for medical treatment. A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma, in its December 10 order, mandated that medical establishments must offer first aid, diagnostic tests, lab work, and other necessary treatments at no cost.
