HC asks Delhi hospital to discharge patient held up for unpaid bill

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here to immediately discharge a patient, saying that hospitals cannot hold hostage persons undergoing treatment for non-clearance of unpaid hospital bills.

The hospital had allegedly withheld discharge of a former Madhya Pradesh policeman over non-clearance of dues pertaining to his treatment.

A division bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Deepa Sharma was hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by the son of the policeman, admitted in the hospital in February.

The petitioner-son alleged that the hospital was not discharging his father for non-payment of Rs 13.45 lakh. He disputed the bill amount, saying the hospital was not giving proper treatment to his father.

On the other hand, the hospital said the total dues were Rs 16.75 lakh, of which the petitioner had paid only Rs 3.3 lakh.

It said a surgery was performed on the patient on April 21 despite unpaid bills.

On April 20, the petitioner filed a police complaint after the surgery.

--IANS

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