NHRC issues notice to centre, Delhi government

The NHRC has issued notice to the union health ministry and the Delhi government over a 10-year-old boy losing his leg after he was denied timely treatment, an official said on Friday.

A shard of glass had pierced Bilal's leg in an accident and the boy's family took him to a local quack who stitched up the wound without removing the glass.

Days later, he was taken to Bara Hindu Rao hospital and the doctors there too failed to detect the piece of glass lodged inside the boy's foot and it was only after three days that the glass was detected and removed. However, by then infection had set in.

"The boy was then transferred to Lok Nayak hospital, where he was initially refused admission but later kept for two days and then discharged and was referred to Gangaram hospital. His family members then took him to a hospital in Meerut where his foot was amputated in order to save his life," the NHRC said in a statement.

The incident was an indicator of mismanaged health services in Delhi and carelessness of doctors in government hospitals, who do not examine the patients properly, the National Human Rights Commission said.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report on the incident, the NHRC issued notice to the secretary, union ministry of health and family welfare, the secretary, health department, Delhi government, the commissioner of North Delhi Municipal Corporation and the secretary of Delhi Medical Council calling for a report within two weeks.

They have also been asked to specify steps taken for the identification of quacks practicing in Delhi, action taken against the erring doctors as well as details about the scheme framed for providing monetary relief to victims of medical negligence.