Gujarat: HC notice to govt, hospitals for denying emergency treatment to 2 women in labor

The PIL has sought the formation of rules for human rights and for the treatment of pregnant women and children in an emergency. It was filed by Nikunj Mevada through his advocate Rajan Patel and he mentioned two incidents, in both of them the women were in labour but still, the hospitals denied them treatment.

In the first incident, a poor woman had to go through labour and ultimately had to give birth on the stairs of Mirani hospital in Tarapur taluka of Anand district in January. She had to wait outside the hospital in extreme cold as the hospital allegedly demanded Rs 42,000 fee which she could not pay.

The next incident occurred in February at LG Hospital where a woman who was having contractions was refused treatment by the staff. She gave birth on the hospital premises but the child could not survive. The PIL demanded that government should issue directions to form necessary rules so that pregnant women can be immediately admitted and provided treatment in different facilities, reports

Mirror.

Pointing out the two instances, the petitioner has urged the HC to take necessary actions so that doctors and hospitals including private ones should provide medical aid to any pregnant woman who is in extreme labour pain or in a medical emergency in a duty-bound manner, particularly if they are poor and uneducated. The petitioner sought legal aid to protect the human rights of pregnant women and rights in childbirth according to Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.