The Haryana Government has initiated both criminal and civil action against the Fortis Hospital in Gurugram in the case pertaining to the death of seven-year old Adya Singh due to dengue.
On the basis of inquiry report submitted by committee of Haryana Government, an FIR has been registered against the hospital under Section 304 (2) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) in Sushant Lok Police Station. The other criminal action against the hospital is being taken under the Epidemic Diseases Act, said Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij.
A committee had been constituted to investigate the matter which submitted its report to the Health Department last week. The department has directed the Civil Surgeon, Gurugram, to provide one copy each of the report to the parents of the child and the hospital, and one copy to the police with instructions to initiate criminal inquiry against the hospital.
The Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, Vinay Pratap Singh informed that instructions had been issued to all hospitals in Gurugram that in case of any case pertaining to dengue or swine flu, the hospital would immediately inform the Health Department, but Gurugram’s Fortis Hospital did not inform the department about the said dengue case. For this negligence, the Health Department would get a case registered against the hospital under Section 188 of the IPC, said he.
Besides these two criminal inquiries, civil action on three counts is also being taken against the Fortis Hospital. The Drug Controller Department has issued notice to the pharmacy running in the hospital for various shortcomings found and a reply is awaited. The State Drug Controller would take decision on the reply and license of the pharmacy may be suspended under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945, or may be cancelled, the Health Minister Vij said.
Similarly, on the basis of the report of the investigation committee, notice has also been issued to the blood bank of the hospital for which 15 days have been given to file a reply. On the basis of the reply, action would be taken against the blood bank under which its license may be suspended or cancelled, he said.
Apart from this, the Health Department has also directed the Haryana Urban Development Authority to check the norms and agreement pertaining to the treatment facility to the economically weaker sections. If any negligence is found, action would be taken against the hospital, he added.
The government’s committee had indicted Fortis Hospital, Gurugram for grave negligence and unethical act in handling Adya’s case. The committee had alleged several irregularities, including refusal of appropriate ambulance service to the patient, not following leave against medical advice (LAMA) protocol, and overcharging.
Fortis Hospital, Gurugam had charged Dwarka resident Jayant Singh nearly Rs 16 lakh for 15 days when they had admitted their daughter Adya to the hospital for treatment of dengue. Adya was declared dead on September 15.