Direct NMC, NABH To Make Safety Standards Criteria For Recognition Of Hospitals : Delhi Medical Association To Supreme Court

In the suo motu case over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Kolkata, the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) has today filed an intervention before the Supreme Court. 

On August 20, the Supreme Court had passed an order after taking a suo moto cognisance of the case. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra formed a National Task Force (NTF) to address the systemic issues regarding the lack of safety for medical professionals.

The DMA's application is the second intervention and it comes after the Federation of All India Medical Association today also pleaded intervention in the case. It has sought interim measures including some urgent measures till the recommendations made by NTF is implemented.

The DMA is a registered society consisting of more than 15,000 healthcare professionals. In the DMA's application filed through Advocate Sneha Kalita, following directions have been sought:

(1) Direct National Medical Commission and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers and State Healthcare Regulatory Authorities and other Accreditation Agencies to include the Safety Standards for Healthcare Professionals at work place as laid down by the Supreme Court through its order dated August 20 to be part of the mandatory criteria for recognition of Medical Colleges, Medical Education Institution, Hospitals and Clinical Establishments in every State for ensuring safe working environment particularly women professionals;

(2) Direct mandatory filing of First Information Report by the Institution within 2 hours of commission of cognizable offence within the Hospital premises/ Clinical Establishment/ Medical Institutions;

(3) Direct each State to create Compensation Distress Fund for the healthcare victim or the family members of the deceased victim which is to be disbursed within a time frame;

(4) Include a member of Delhi Medical Association to the NTA.

In 2021, the DMA had filed a petition seeking directions to prevent acts of violence against doctors. However, on July 12, this year, a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Sanjay Karol and Sanjeev Kumar had dismissed it observing that laws are already in place to deal with such instances.

Case Details: In Re: Alleged Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor in RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata and related issues.