Telangana HC demands state policy on emergency care after man dies following denial of treatment in Mahabubabad

The PIL concerns V Ravi from Jayaram village in Chinnaguduru mandal, who, according to the petition, was allegedly denied treatment at Mahabubabad Civil Hospital despite serious kidney and other ailments because he was unaccompanied and did not have his Aadhaar card, Advocate Komuraiah contended on Thursday.

Komuraiah submitted that Ravi spent a couple of days on the hospital premises and eventually fell unconscious. He was mistakenly declared dead and moved to the mortuary. About a day later, sanitation workers cleaning the mortuary discovered that he was still alive and alerted the authorities. Ravi was then readmitted and treated at the hospital, but he passed away a week later.

The advocate contended that serious gaps in the provision of medical care were endangering residents and violating Article 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution. Media reports noted that Ravi was an alcoholic living alone after his wife and children had left him.

While the hospital authorities denied refusing treatment or placing him in the mortuary, the state government ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The bench acknowledged the gravity of the allegations and directed that emergency medical care must not be denied on technical or procedural grounds, adjourning the matter for further hearing in three weeks.