Duty Of State Is To Save Lives Of Those Infected With Covid; Non-Availability Of ICU Ventilators Cannot Be A Reason For Denying Admission: Bombay HC In Suo Motu Case

At a time when Maharashtra is among the worst affected State in whole of India with most number of persons suffering from Covid, the Bombay High Court has commendably, courageously and correctly in a suo motu case titled Court On Its Own Motion Vs. Union Of India Through Its Secretary And Others on September 10, 2020 in a Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation No. 4 Of 2020 taken suo motu cognizance of safety issues faced by the general public due to the non-availability of ventilators and oxygenated beds for Coronavirus patients with moderate and severe conditions in order to reduce the death rate in Nagpur.

If the courts will not speak up for the people then who else will? What can one expect from politicians who are at present too busy with several other petty issues which they consider far more important? This bold, brilliant and brave initiative taken by a Division Bench of Justice RK Deshpande and Justice PV Ganediwala of the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has to be applauded, appreciated and admired in no uncertain terms!

Coming straight to the nub of the matter, it is first and foremost pointed out in para 3 of this latest, landmark and extremely laudable judgment that, The main issue which requires our immediate attention is of making the ventilators and oxygenated beds available to the patients of moderate and severe conditions so as to reduce the death rate. The people are required to travel from one Hospital to another with serious patients and for want of accommodation, the newspaper report shows that the deaths are occurring. We must note with regret that for want of medical aid, the people are falling prey to Corona Virus. We, therefore, thought that without going into the legal niceties, an immediate arrangement can be worked out to reduce the death rate. Hence, we try to work out the solution.

No doubt, this burning issue directly affects the common person. It cannot be allowed to lie unattended and unaddressed for a long time. So it was in the fitness of things that the Bombay High Court decided to address it promptly which is the crying need of the hour also! No denying it!

Without mincing any words, the Bench then also makes it a point to say in simple, suave and straight language in para 4 that, It is not the case of the parties including the Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur; the Collector, Nagpur, the Deans of GMCH and IGMC, Nagpur that the infrastructure facilities namely, ICU, Ventilator beds or oxygenated beds are not available, of course, this cannot be the reason for the State and it is the duty of the State to make all such infrastructural and medical facilities available to save the life of people who are affected or are likely to be affected by Corona Virus.

Most commendably, what is even more heartening to note is that it is then also made clear in para 5 that, The problem of non-availability of the medical and para-medical staff can also not be a problem to deny the admission in the Hospital to the patients. Even private Doctors are under obligation to provide the treatment. The preservation of human life is of paramount importance. Once the life is lost, it cannot be restored. Every Doctor whether he is in Government or Semi-Government Hospitals or private professional is under obligation to extend his services with due expertise for protecting the life. Even private Doctors cannot refuse to render their services during pandemic in all such Hospitals where they are called or their services are needed. Similar is the position in respect of para-medical staff. It is the obligation on the State to secure adequate para-medical staff from all such sources as are available and non-availability of it cannot be countenance.

Be it noted, it is then pointed out in para 6 that, Fortunately, Dr Archana Kothari, the President of Indian Medical Association and Dr. Anup Marar, the Director of Orange City Hospital and Convenor of Hospitals Association have joined us in this matter on their own, showing willingness to tackle the problem. They have, however, expressed the difficulties of the Doctors who are 65 years of age and above or are suffering from co-morbidities to take responsibility of providing treatment by personally attending the patients in various Hospitals or Dedicated Covid Health Centres (DHCs).

To put things in perspective, the Bench then points out in para 7 that, We find that there is a classification of patients in different categories – broadly, it is in three categories of mild, moderate and severe. These are further classified as asymptomatic positive patient, symptomatic patient with co-morbidity, symptomatic patient with pneumonia without hypoxia, symptomatic patient with pneumonia with hypoxia and symptomatic patient with pneumonia with hypoxia with sepsis/shock/organ failure. From the affidavit filed by the Dean GMC, we find that there is a set treatment which is provided to different categories of patients of Covid-19 with such variations to be made by the consulting Doctors keeping in view the specific issue relating to the patients. The investigations are also by and large fixed.

Frankly speaking, it is then conceded in para 8 that, So far as Doctors of 65 years of age and onwards with co-morbidities, it may be possible keeping in view the experience which they possessed in the profession, to provide guidance in respect of investigation and treatment to be administered to a particular patient through various means of communication like personal contact on cell phone, sending of reports through Whatsapp in pdf or looking the condition of the patient through Video Call and also conducting the conference. We have seen and experienced also that the Doctors who are infected with Covid-19, are managing and administering the patients in the Hospitals while they are in home isolation. It does not seem to be a difficult task to manage the patient by the Doctors.

Needless to say, it is then rightly advised in para 9 that, The services of the Ayush Doctors or PG students or students in Super Speciality can be utilized and they can work under the guidance and instructions from the senior Doctors through various communication systems pointed out earlier.

No doubt, the Bench then feels relaxed to point out in para 10 that, We are assured by Dr. Archana Kothari, the President, IMA and Dr. Anup Marar, the Convenor of Private Hospital Association that within a day they shall provide a list of private Doctors in different age group, who can provide their services either by personally attending the patients or through various communication systems. Such list shall contain addresses and contact number of Doctors.

Furthermore, the Bench also makes it known in para 11 that, We are informed and it is placed on record that the Collector, Nagpur, has in exercise of its statutory powers constituted a Task Force consisting a team of 12 Doctors. Upon receipt of a list from the IMA and Hospitals Association, the Municipal Commissioner shall in consultation with the Task Force assign the duties and responsibilities to the Doctors in various Hospitals and DCHCs to take the responsibility of treating the patients. This shall be done within a period of 24 hours upon receipt of the list by the Municipal Commissioner who shall communicate the duties and responsibilities along with the Centres and Hospitals to the concerned Doctors from the list. Shri Radhakrishnan, the Municipal Commissioner submits that presently if this arrangement is made, the problem can be tackled.

Not stopping here, the Bench then also discloses in para 12 that, We are assured by the Collector to make available the para-medical staff in the concerned Hospitals and DCHCs. The question of payment to these Doctors and para-medical staff can be considered by the appropriate authorities. However, it can be settled subsequently also and this shall not be a condition precedent to render the services by the Doctors or para-medical staff. We expect all the Doctors and para-medical staff assigned with the duties and the place of work shall discharge their obligation with promptitude and that this Court does not receive any complaint in respect of no response from any such member.

Simply put, the Bench then candidly points out in para 13 that, The judges and the lawyers have made themselves available 24 x 7 to serve the causes in pandemic situation and there would be nothing wrong to expect the medical and para-medical staff to be available 24 x 7 in this pandemic situation. We want all the Doctors and para-medical staff to rise on the occasion of severity in recognition of our observations in para 31 and 32 of the decision in the case of Citizen Forum for Equality in LD-VC-PIL No. 12 of 2020, decided on 01.06.2020, as under:

8. Article 21 of the Constitution casts the obligation on the State to preserve life. The provision as explained by this Court in scores of decisions has emphasized and reiterated with gradually increasing emphasis of that position. A doctor at the government hospital positioned to meet this State obligation is, therefore, duty bound to extend medical assistance for preserving life. Every doctor whether at a government hospital or otherwise has the professional obligation to extend his services with due expertise for protecting life. No law or State action can intervene to avoid/delay the discharge of the paramount obligation cast upon members of the medical profession. The obligation being total, absolute and paramount, laws of procedure whether in statutes or otherwise which would interfere with the discharge of this obligation cannot be sustained and must, therefore, give way. ........

14. It could not be forgotten that seeing an injured man in a miserable condition the human instinct of every citizen moves him to rush for help and do all that can be done to save the life. It could not be disputed that inspite of development economical, political and cultural still citizens are human beings and all the more when a man in such a miserable state hanging between life and death reaches the medical practitioner either in a hospital (run or managed by the State) public authority or a private persons or a medical professional doing only private practice he is always called upon to rush to help such an injured persons and to do all that is within his power to save life. So far as this duty of a medical professional is concerned its duty coupled with human instinct, it needs no decision nor any code of ethics nor any rule of law. .......

15. Medical profession is a very respectable profession. Doctor is looked upon by common man as the only hope when a person is hanging between life and death but they avoid their duty to help a person when he is facing death when they know that it is a medico-legal case. To know the response of the medical profession the Medical Council of India and also the All India Medical Association were put to notice and were requested to put up their cases.

Most significantly, the Bench then very rightly holds in para 15 that:
We do not want a situation to occur where the patients are required to travel from one Hospital to another to secure the position in ICU, ventilated beds or oxygenated beds or due to non-availability of the services of medical and paramedical staff. If any patient requires medical assistance and approaches any Hospital or DCHC where such facility is not available for any reason whatsoever, such Hospitals or DCHCs should immediately make necessary enquiry and help the patient to reach to the proper destination.

It shall be the duty of the Municipal Commissioner and the Task Force to see that all the Hospitals and DCHCs should provide the information and contact numbers of the Hospitals where such facilities can be easily made available and the patients are not required to travel from pillar to post. We have seen the affidavit of the Municipal Commissioner and we find that such responsibility is shouldered by the Municipal Commissioner. We also expect the task Force to spring in action to supervise the infrastructural facilities and man power in the Hospitals and DCHCs.

For the sake of clarity, the Bench then holds in para 16 that:
We make it clear that there should be no prohibition for the patients of COVID-19 to have consultation with the Doctor of their choice who can visit and examine the patient anywhere in any Hospital or DCHC and advice investigation and medication. This will reduce the responsibilities of others.

To summarize, the Bombay High Court Nagpur Bench in a suo motu case correctly, courageously and commendably very rightly points out that it is the duty of the State to save the lives of those infected with Covid and non-availability of ICU ventilators cannot be a reason for denying admission! Very rightly so! The Bench will further hear on this on 15.09.2020 for further direction as pointed in para 17! We have to keep our fingers crossed till then!

Sanjeev Sirohi, Advocate,
s/o Col BPS Sirohi, A 82, Defence Enclave,
Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera, Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh.