MHRC gives hope to victims

The Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC), while hearing the plea of victims of medical negligence against private hospitals, agreed to provide guidance in getting justice. The state commission for consultation has taken up three such cases that were rejected at the public hearing of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

However, MHRC also made it clear that the body would not be able to take any legal action in any case filed against private hospitals until it involves public servants or government body. Talking to The Asian Age, chairman S.R. Bannurmath said, “I have taken documents of a few cases filed against private hospitals for consultation. If I find out if any case is stuck due to negligence or involvement of a public servant, we will take adequate measures to smoothen the legal process.” He added, “But we cannot take any action against any private hospital or their medical staff.”

According to the information gathered by this newspaper, four such cases were initially submitted to MHRC. However, out of them, the commission has rejected the case of Raghavendra Rao as the Supreme Court had discarded his case. On January 1, this paper in the article ‘Amputee gets verdict, but no justice’ wrote how Mr Rao (39) along with his retired schoolteacher, (60) has been fighting for justice for the last 13 years. When his case was rejected in the public hearing, he sought the right to die in front of the panel. Mr Rao claimed that due to negligence of a doctor, he had to amputate his right leg and has also developed several other health complications. “If the apex court has denied his case, we can’t take it up,” said Mr Bannurmath.

However, the commission has taken up three cases of Chandrakant Kulkarni, Shreya Nimonkar and Rachana Dahake. “The commission is a new ray of hope in our lives. In the hearing, my case was declared open so I have taken it forward with the commission. I had filed a First Information Report but so far, no action has been taken. So, this commission can put pressure on police to take action,” said Mr Kulkarni.