Hospitals cannot hold patients “hostage” to extract money for unpaid bills, the Delhi High Court told a premier private city hospital for allegedly withholding custody of a patient over outstanding dues.
Justices Vipin Sanghi and Deepa Sharma said on Wednesday: “Even if dues are outstanding, custody of patients cannot be withheld. We deprecate this practice.” The court directed Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to prepare the discharge summary of the patient and allow his son, the petitioner, to remove his father forthwith. Senior Standing Counsel of the Delhi government Rahul Mehra said several hospitals behaved in this manner.
