NHRC notice to Delhi government over medical negligence

The National Human Rights Commission Friday issued notice to the Delhi government over reports of medical negligence leading to a child's birth outside a government hospital here.

The commission took suo motu cognizance of media reports that said on account of negligence of doctors at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, a woman gave birth to a child outside the hospital under the open sky on the night of July 27.

It then issued notice to the secretary, department of health and family welfare, government of Delhi, calling for a factual report within two weeks.

"The commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of right to health of the victim woman and her newborn," the NHRC said.

The woman, who was in advance stage of labour, had come to the hospital for treatment. But the doctors, instead of admitting her, asked her to get an ultrasound performed from outside. In the process, she delivered the baby outside the hospital.