Petition filed before NHRC against Kerala hospital

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Jun 1 (UNI) A leading NGO in Kerala today petitioned to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against a private hospital alleging that it had turned down treatment to a HIV positive patient.

Thiruvananthapuram-based Foundation for Integrated Research in Mental Health (FIRM) said in its complaint that Cosmopolitan Hospital had discharged Ashok K Nair after he revealed about his HIV status.

He was admitted to the hospital on May 28 after he had a fall from the scooter.

FIRM President Lalu Joseph, who filed the complaint before the Commission, told UNI here today that he had accompanied the patient to the hospital. He was told by the doctors that Ashok had to be operated upon as there were three serious fractures in his left leg.

However, when his HIV status was revealed, the hospital discharged him saying that it did not have facilities to do the operation. He was admitted to the Medical college hospital.

Mr Joseph said FIRM members took him to the medical college hospital where he got immediate attention and care.

"The excuse the doctor at Cosmopolitan hospital offered was not correct as any hospital having trauma care unit ought to have such facilities," the petition alleged, pointing out that the hospital was one of the best-equipped private hospitals in Kerala.

Mr Joseph alleged that the hospital refused to provide even an ambulance to carry Ashokan to the medical college.

"There is a serious issue of Human Rights violations involved, especially when the victim is HIV positive. The stigma and discrimination meted out to Ashokan by the Cosmopolitan hospital have to be viewed against the backdrop of serious efforts being done in India to bring the stigma and discrimination against PLHA down," the petition said.

The FIRM urged the NHRC to take effective steps against those responsible for violating the Human Rights of a PLHA.

UNI

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