5-month pregnant woman denied medical aid: HC pulls up GMSH-16

The Bench of Justice Rajbir Sehrawat held that even the counsel for Chandigarh has not been able to point out any law which entitles hospitals to drive out patients by denying them medical treatment for not being a resident of UT, Chandigarh. The Bench stated that otherwise also, the petitioner cannot be subjected to discrimination only on the ground of her place of residence. “This decision or even the tendency of a government medical facility cannot be countenanced, by any means. Hence, Director Health and Family Welfare, GMSH16, deserves a direction to provide the necessary treatment/advice, in normal course, as and when the petitioner approaches the hospital,” it was stated.

Justice Sehrawat said, “The present petition is disposed of with a direction to respondents to provide necessary medical treatment/advice to the petitioner, in normal course, as and when she approaches the respondent-hospital.”