The Haryana government and police chief have received letters from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding claims of medical malpractice involving a patient in Panipat. A patient who was a beneficiary of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) reportedly had surgery on the incorrect knee at a nearby facility. The National Human Rights Commission has taken “suo motu cognisance of a media report that a patient was wrongly operated upon his left knee, instead of the injured right knee at a hospital in Panipat.
The event started when hospital staff accidentally operated on the patient’s left knee during surgery on his wounded right knee. The surgeons operated on the right knee after recognizing their mistake and in response to the patient’s family’s objections. The patient is still unable to walk after the corrected surgery, which has led to serious questions regarding the consequences of the original error and the general standard of care.
The fact that the hospital charged the patient Rs 8,000 and took away his Ayushman Bharat card—which should have allowed him to get free medical care under the PM-JAY program—complicates matters even further. This hospital’s move draws attention to possible problems with the Ayushman Bharat program’s monitoring and implementation, which intends to give health coverage to socially and economically underprivileged groups.
If the reports are true, the NHRC has expressed grave concerns about the occurrence, saying that there appears to have been “medical negligence causing violation of the victim’s rights to life and health.” Within a week, the NHRC has asked a comprehensive report from the state police head and the government of Haryana. It is anticipated that the report will contain information about the steps taken to hold the negligent parties accountable as well as any payments made to the patient.
The NHRC stressed in its statement that when patients are abused and given cruel or inhumane treatment, the authorities in charge of overseeing and monitoring private hospitals cannot avoid accountability. The Commission stated that the patient in question has suffered grave repercussions as a result of these authorities’ inability to carry out their responsibilities in an efficient manner.
The challenging circumstances faced by the sufferer were clarified further by the media article. The patient has been working as a laborer to make ends meet since he lost his family in a sad accident in 2006. He needed medical attention after suffering a right knee injury from a tumble while doing housework. The necessity of conducting a comprehensive investigation to guarantee responsibility and patient justice has been underlined by the NHRC.
The prompt action taken by the NHRC in reaction to the occurrence highlights the significance of protecting patients’ rights and making sure healthcare facilities follow the highest standards of care. The measures of the Commission further emphasize the necessity of strict oversight and regulation of private hospitals in order to stop similar instances of medical malpractice from happening in the future.
The Indian government has launched a major project called the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to cover millions of impoverished individuals for medical expenses. Incidents such as the one in Panipat, however, cast doubt on the efficiency with which the system is being implemented as well as the responsibility of healthcare practitioners.The urgency of resolving the matter and implementing corrective steps to avoid such incidents in the future is indicated by the NHRC’s demand for a thorough report within a week. The Commission’s involvement also acts as a warning to medical professionals about the serious repercussions of medical negligence and the vital significance of patient care.
As the investigation progresses, it is hoped that the responsible parties will be held accountable, and measures will be put in place to ensure that such incidents do not recur. The NHRC’s actions reflect a commitment to upholding the rights of patients and ensuring that healthcare facilities provide the highest standard of care to all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status.
SOURCE:
TIMES OF INDIA
