The Supreme Court on Friday reprimanded two private hospitals in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad for refusing to treat a four-year-old rape victim. Later the child died due to lack of treatment. The Supreme Court termed the behavior of the two hospitals as callous and cruel and ordered compensation to the families of the victims.
The Supreme Court’s ire was specifically directed at an Ayurvedic doctor who failed to provide first aid to the child. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant told the doctor in stern terms if he fails to fulfill his duty., Then he has no right to write doctor before his name.
The court has asked the doctor whether he is not eligible for treatment or not, Then he should have sensitized and taken the child to another hospital. The child is neglected because he is poor‘The court also questioned whether the law had been enacted. Referring to the cruelty of not treating a child victim of a heinous crime, the Chief Justice said that the family should be compensated by fine.
The heartbreaking incident took place in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh in March this year. According to family members, One of their neighbors took the child on the pretext of giving them chocolates. When he didn’t come back, After a search, he was found unconscious and covered in blood.
The family alleged that the child was first taken to two private hospitals but they refused to admit him. He was then taken to Ghaziabad District Hospital, j‘Later the doctors declared him dead and the family approached the Supreme Court alleging negligence in investigation and treatment.
In April, the Supreme Court ordered an SIT probe into the incident, j‘There are many reasons why hospitals do not provide timely treatment. In an earlier hearing, the court had reprimanded the Ghaziabad police for negligence in the investigation. The police filed a complaint just a day after the incident and initially did not invoke sections of the Pokcho Act and rape despite the fact that the child’s genital injuries were found in the post-mortem. Suspecting an attempt to cover up the entire incident, the court took strict action.