Accident victim denied admission by Inlaks hospital

Passerby who took injured biker to hospital says he was given first aid and asked to go to governmentrun SassoonIn yet another case of an accident victim being turned away by a private hospital a man injured in a hitandrun at Koregaon Park was denied admission at the Inlaks Budhrani General Hospital and sent to Sassoon for further treatment The accident took place on Saturday at 1045 am when a speeding car knocked down a biker near German Bakery in Koregaon Park Instead of rushing the victim to a hospital the car sped away leaving victim Sharad Walhekar bleeding on the road An eyewitness to the accident Pravin Aher rushed Walhekar to the nearby Inlaks hospital where he was given first aid What they told me next was shocking The man was in a bad state and hospital staff told me he was critical His relatives couldnt be contacted and since they werent present to sign the papers the hospital was reluctant to treat him further said Aher According to Aher despite repeated requests the doctors did not agree to admit the victim and instead arranged for an ambulance to shift the patient to Sassoon General Hospital I had no choice so I took him with me in an ambulance I contactedu00a0 Walhekars office staff on the way His sister arrived at Sassoon hospital and took over the formalities said Aher MiD DAY contacted authorities at Inlaks Budhrani hospital who admitted that certain medicolegal cases are referred to Sassoon hospital if they are too risky I dont know about this specific case but yes if an accident victims kin cannot be traced and the injured is in a critical state we dont take responsibility and shift them to Sassoon Thats because Sassoon has a chowky and the police are always present to do all formalities and God forbid if something goes wrong relatives will hold us responsible said Dr Asha Rewlani medical superintendent of the hospital Asked how the hospital could refuse treatment to a critical patient and transfer him she said such a transfer is done only if the patient is in a shape to make the journey We first review the case and if the patient is stable enough to survive the journey only then we shift them she said Med fraternity saysDoctors as well as activists said that the responsibility of hospitals does not end with first aid alone This isnt the first time we have heard of such a thing it does get reported We say a patient should be transferred only if he is stable and vitals are okay Also there should be a strong and valid reason for transfer like if hospital authorities feel he will get better treatment at the referred hospital Refusing medical aid to an accident victim is a crime said Dr Devendra Shirole national vicepresident IMA Chandmal Parmar member of accident prevention committee of Maharashtra and a road traffic activist said such cases go unnoticed as people are unaware of their rights Refusing treatment to accident victims is a punishable crime but in crisis situations people get scared and are unaware of their rights Fifteen years ago a doctor was booked under the Motor Vehicles Act for refusing treatment That was the last such case Unfortunately people dont lodge complaints against doctors or hospitals in such cases said Parmar What law saysSection 134 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Act 1988 says The driver of the vehicle involved in the accident should take all reasonable steps to secure medical attention for injured person by carrying him to the nearest medical practitioner or hospital and it shall be the duty of every medical practitioner or doctor on duty in the hospital to immediately attend to the injured person render medical aid or treatment without waiting for any procedural formalities unless the person or guardian desires otherwise For those not complying with the above Section 187 of the same act says The offender can be imprisoned for a term which may extend to three months or fine which may extend to Rs 500 or both and for the second offence imprisonment for six months or fine of Rs 1000 or both