The National Human Rights Commission took suo moto cognizance of a complaint accompanied by media reports. The reports highlighted the negligence in the treatment of Delhi Police Constable, Amit Kumar who died due to Corona infection. In effect, it issued notices to Chief Secretary of Government of NCT of Delhi and Union Home Secretary on May 12, 2020. Accordingly, the government has to submit a report concerning the same within four weeks. It has to include the Standard Operating Procedure adopted by the hospitals for the COVID-19 patients; along with the status of its implementation.
Observations by NHRC
NHRC observed that the police personnel, doctors, paramedical staff of the hospitals are the ones who are frontline fighters. They are putting their best efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Adding to it, NHRC raised concern over the matter of alleged denial of admission in the hospital to a policeman; who was doing his duty sincerely. Many hospitals turned him away and he died en-route to RML hospital. Timely treatment could have saved his life. Moreover, this incident sends a message that patients are not properly attended by the hospitals and COVID-19 Centres. They are not following the Standard Operating Procedure. It shows the recklessness and negligence of hospital authorities. The Commission asserted that hospitals have to tackle this situation very sensibly with a humane approach.
