Delhi HC notice to Centre, others over G.B.Pant Hospital functioning

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre, the Delhi government and others over medical treatment to patients at the G.B. Pant Hospital here.

Notice was also issued to the Delhi Medical Council on a public interest litigation seeking directions to ensure that hospital services were not disrupted because of disputes between doctors of different departments at the hospital.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath sought the responses from the authorities by May 11.

Petitioner D.N. Srivastava said: "Certain dispute arose between the Cardio-Thoracic Vascular Surgery Department and the Anaesthesia Department, which led to a situation where consultants from the latter department refused to administer anaesthesia to patients in the hospital."

His counsel Kapil Sankhla told the court that operations were not being conducted at the G.B Pant Hospital since April 6 due to the dispute between doctors.

This had "led to risk to lives of patients suffering from heart diseases and other problems and are being denied medical treatment".

The plea sought directions or guidelines in the nature of code of conduct for the hospital's staff like doctors, nurses and paramedical personnel for airing their grievance without causing any disruption or prejudice to its smooth functioning.

It also sought appropriate disciplinary action against doctors who refused to perform their duty.

Inaction of authorities concerned led to violation of the right to life and health of the patients and increased medical expenses incurred by patients who are poor, the plea said.

--IANS

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