No business writing doctor: Supreme Court's sharp rap in 4-year-old's rape case
The Supreme Court on Friday rebuked two private hospitals over allegations they refused treatment to a four-year-old rape victim in Ghaziabad. The child later died.
The Supreme Court on Friday tore into two private hospitals for allegedly refusing to provide treatment to a four-year-old rape victim who later succumbed to her injuries in Ghaziabad. Calling the conduct of the hospitals "merciless" and "ruthless", the Supreme Court directed them to pay compensation to the bereaved family.
The top court's anger was specifically against an ayurvedic doctor who failed to provide initial medical care to the child. "You have no business writing doctor with your name if you don't perform your duty," a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, said.
'IGNORED BECAUSE SHE WAS POOR?'
"If you had sensitivity, you would have gone with the child to another hospital if you didn't have the facility. You ignored because she was poor?" the court further said, according to a report in Bar and Bench.
The incident happened earlier this year in March in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The girl's family has alleged that she was taken away by their neighbour on the pretext of buying chocolates. When she did not return, a frantic search was launched. She was later found unconscious and covered in blood.
The girl's family alleged that she was taken to two private hospitals, but they refused to admit her. She was then taken to the Ghaziabad district hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
The family then approached the Supreme Court, alleging serious lapses in the investigation and the medical response in the case. In April, the Supreme Court ordered an SIT probe, which found that the hospitals failed to provide timely care.
"A child victim of such a heinous crime is brought before you, and you are so merciless that you did not provide medical care," the CJI said.
"When we impose a penalty, it will have a chilling effect. Think of victim compensation and grant reasonable compensation to the family," the Supreme Court further said.
In its previous hearing, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Ghaziabad Police after pointing out several lapses in its probe, which it termed "insensitive".
The CJI noted that the FIR in the case was registered only a day after the incident and provisions under the POCSO Act were not added. Moreover, the court said rape charges were not initially added to the FIR despite the autopsy revealing injuries to the child's private parts.
The Supreme Court said there appeared to be a "hush-hush approach" surrounding the incident and eventually ordered a SIT investigation.
The Supreme Court on Friday tore into two private hospitals for allegedly refusing to provide treatment to a four-year-old rape victim who later succumbed to her injuries in Ghaziabad. Calling the conduct of the hospitals "merciless" and "ruthless", the Supreme Court directed them to pay compensation to the bereaved family.
The top court's anger was specifically against an ayurvedic doctor who failed to provide initial medical care to the child. "You have no business writing doctor with your name if you don't perform your duty," a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, said.
'IGNORED BECAUSE SHE WAS POOR?'
"If you had sensitivity, you would have gone with the child to another hospital if you didn't have the facility. You ignored because she was poor?" the court further said, according to a report in Bar and Bench.
The incident happened earlier this year in March in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The girl's family has alleged that she was taken away by their neighbour on the pretext of buying chocolates. When she did not return, a frantic search was launched. She was later found unconscious and covered in blood.
The girl's family alleged that she was taken to two private hospitals, but they refused to admit her. She was then taken to the Ghaziabad district hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
The family then approached the Supreme Court, alleging serious lapses in the investigation and the medical response in the case. In April, the Supreme Court ordered an SIT probe, which found that the hospitals failed to provide timely care.
"A child victim of such a heinous crime is brought before you, and you are so merciless that you did not provide medical care," the CJI said.
"When we impose a penalty, it will have a chilling effect. Think of victim compensation and grant reasonable compensation to the family," the Supreme Court further said.
In its previous hearing, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Ghaziabad Police after pointing out several lapses in its probe, which it termed "insensitive".
The CJI noted that the FIR in the case was registered only a day after the incident and provisions under the POCSO Act were not added. Moreover, the court said rape charges were not initially added to the FIR despite the autopsy revealing injuries to the child's private parts.
The Supreme Court said there appeared to be a "hush-hush approach" surrounding the incident and eventually ordered a SIT investigation.
The Supreme Court on Friday tore into two private hospitals for allegedly refusing to provide treatment to a four-year-old rape victim who later succumbed to her injuries in Ghaziabad. Calling the conduct of the hospitals "merciless" and "ruthless", the Supreme Court directed them to pay compensation to the bereaved family.
The top court's anger was specifically against an ayurvedic doctor who failed to provide initial medical care to the child. "You have no business writing doctor with your name if you don't perform your duty," a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, said.
'IGNORED BECAUSE SHE WAS POOR?'
"If you had sensitivity, you would have gone with the child to another hospital if you didn't have the facility. You ignored because she was poor?" the court further said, according to a report in Bar and Bench.
The incident happened earlier this year in March in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The girl's family has alleged that she was taken away by their neighbour on the pretext of buying chocolates. When she did not return, a frantic search was launched. She was later found unconscious and covered in blood.
The girl's family alleged that she was taken to two private hospitals, but they refused to admit her. She was then taken to the Ghaziabad district hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
The family then approached the Supreme Court, alleging serious lapses in the investigation and the medical response in the case. In April, the Supreme Court ordered an SIT probe, which found that the hospitals failed to provide timely care.
"A child victim of such a heinous crime is brought before you, and you are so merciless that you did not provide medical care," the CJI said.
"When we impose a penalty, it will have a chilling effect. Think of victim compensation and grant reasonable compensation to the family," the Supreme Court further said.
In its previous hearing, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Ghaziabad Police after pointing out several lapses in its probe, which it termed "insensitive".
The CJI noted that the FIR in the case was registered only a day after the incident and provisions under the POCSO Act were not added. Moreover, the court said rape charges were not initially added to the FIR despite the autopsy revealing injuries to the child's private parts.
The Supreme Court said there appeared to be a "hush-hush approach" surrounding the incident and eventually ordered a SIT investigation.
