Telangana High Court Initiates Suo Motu PIL Over Alleged Medical Negligence and Mortuary Incident
Hyderabad: In a significant judicial intervention, the Telangana High Court on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of a distressing letter that alleges a man was denied medical treatment at Mahabubabad district hospital, mistakenly kept in the mortuary while still alive, and later treated before ultimately succumbing in November last year.
Letter from Advocate Sparks Court Action
The letter, addressed to the Chief Justice by advocate Bathini Komuraiah, detailed the harrowing ordeal of V Ravi, a man in his mid-40s from Jayaram village in Chinnaguduru mandal. The court has now converted this letter into a public interest litigation (PIL) to investigate the alleged denial of medical care at the district hospital.
Komuraiah has urged the court to issue directives to the state government to ensure the implementation of fundamental rights, particularly the right to life and healthcare. The suo motu PIL is expected to come up for hearing soon before a bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin.
Allegations of Denial and Negligence
According to the letter, hospital staff allegedly refused treatment to Ravi, who was suffering from serious kidney and other ailments. The denial was reportedly on the grounds that he was not accompanied by an attender and did not have his Aadhaar card with him.
"This case highlights a grave violation of medical ethics and human rights," the letter stated, emphasizing the need for accountability.
The Tragic Sequence of Events
After being denied treatment, Ravi was allegedly abandoned by hospital staff and spent a couple of days near the hospital canteen. He was later found lying unconscious and was mistakenly presumed dead by hospital personnel, who then shifted him to the hospital mortuary.
In a shocking turn of events, nearly 24 hours later, sanitation workers cleaning the mortuary noticed that Ravi was still alive and immediately alerted the police. He was subsequently shifted back to the hospital and provided with medical treatment. However, despite these efforts, he succumbed in the first week of November.
Background and Aftermath
It later emerged that Ravi had been living alone after his wife and children deserted him, and he had become an alcoholic. This personal tragedy compounded the alleged medical negligence he faced.
In response to the incident, hospital authorities have denied the allegations, stating that treatment was not refused and that Ravi was not dumped in the mortuary. Meanwhile, the state government has ordered an inquiry into the matter to ascertain the facts and ensure justice.
The court's intervention underscores the critical need for robust healthcare systems and accountability in medical institutions, setting a precedent for future cases of alleged negligence.
