Parents and children speak up against medical negligence, demand justice

In the wake of an incident, where 7-year-old Adya Singh lost her life after a 15-day treatment at a private hospital in Gurugram

A press conference was organised on Friday to highlight the plight of families seeking justice for victims of medical negligence.

United by the grief of having lost a loved one to alleged medical negligence and corruption, parents, children and close relatives gathered in the city on Friday to extend support to Jayant Singh, the father of 7-year-old Adya Singh who died after 15-day treatment at Fortis Hospital in Gurugram.

Seeking justice for individual cases, the group, under the banner — Fight Against Healthcare Corruption, submitted 800 letters that have been addressed to MPs, Cabinet Ministers, judges and other lawmakers. “What is this system where victims are further victimised? Most of us have had to wait for years and fight an uphill battle to have our case registered. Today, together we have found a voice and the government should hear us out. Somebody has to be held accountable for these deaths,” Mr. Singh said.

At a press conference organised to highlight the plight of families seeking justice, Mr. Singh was joined by several other parents who have been victims of alleged medical negligence.

“Each story that you will hear today is worse than the other. And what makes the situation even more gruesome is that no hospital or doctor has been punished for this murder committed in the name of making profit or corruption. How long will the government take to react to these deaths?” said Pankaj Arora, who lost his 10-year-old son.

His son needed a liver transplant.

Red-tapism , harassment

Rinku who lost his father after a kidney transplant, said red-tapism and harassment can drive any family to “a point where you give up”.

“I filed multiple RTIs, and made several trips to courts and police stations to gather basic details of my [10-year-old] child’s death. Is that not inhuman? Why can’t the system cooperate and help a father who has lost his child? Why is the system geared to protect the guilty?” said Vinod Kumar. Mr. Singh’s letters state: “My objective in sending these representations is to spread awareness about the widespread corruption in the medical industry and the need to bring in and enforce strict regulations.”

‘MCI asking for papers’

Detailing his daughter’s case, he said the situation is so pathetic that despite a detailed enquiry report by the State medical council holding the hospital and doctors responsible, “the Medical Council of India is still asking me for documents”.