Meghalaya woman denied entry into hospital gives birth in ambulance

Guwahati: Media reports about a pregnant woman delivering her baby inside a 108 Emergency Services Ambulance in Shillong has led to The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) taking suo motu cognizance of the case.

On grounds of refusing treatment to the woman who is a member of Kur clan from Umden Nongtluh in Ri Bhoi district, the Kur has slammed the Nongpoh Civil Hospital, H Gordon Roberts Hospital, Nazareth Hospital and both Shillong and Nongpoh branches of the Bethany Hospital, as the woman was denied entry into any hospital in the capital city.

The woman eventually delivered the baby inside a 108 Emergency Services Ambulance at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) premises.

The MHRC issued a statement that said: "The instant case appears to have resulted in gross human rights violation of the patient where Article 21 of the Constitution which mandates protection of life and personal liberty for every person within the territory of India."

"The right to life is a fundamental right and it is a paramount duty of the State to protect and safeguard such rights of any individual. It is appalling under what circumstances the patient was denied admission in a hospital run by the State government and manned by public servants as defined under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code", the statement further added.

The Commission has now asked for a report from the chief secretary, M S Rao, to report on the circumstances under which the patient was denied admission in the Nongpoh Civil Hospital and also in the privately-run hospitals in the State. 

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