"Mandatorily Install CCTV Cameras In ICU, ICCU":IA Filed In Suo Moto Covid Matter Before Gujarat High Court

A plea has been moved in the Gujarat High Court seeking directions on the State and hospital authorities to mandatorily Install CCTV cameras in ICU and ICCU of hospitals to ensure complete transparency between the hospital authorities and the patients.

The intervention application filed by on Shalin Bipinbhai Doshi and moved by Advocate Dr. Avinash Poddar further seeks directions to disclose correct facts about the patients dying due to COVID-19.

The plea highlights certain suggestive measures in order to ensure that the lives of covid 19 patients are saved in an efficient manner and relies on the incidents as reported in print and digital media about the "carelessness and negligence of hospitals which at times lead to the death of the patient in the State."

Stating that the it will be in the interest of the stakeholders and Hospitals, the plea suggests thus:

"Most of the casualties occur in the Intensive Care Unit (Hereinafter referred to as "ICU") and in the Intensive Critical Care Unit (Hereinafter referred to as "ICCU"). The Applicant states that these issues can be mitigated, to some extent, if CCTV cameras are installed especially in ICU & ICCU and also in all other wards and furthersubsequently a copy of the recordings is provided to the relatives if they require."

Furthermore, the plea also relies on a personal experience wherein a Civil Hospital in Surat handed over the body of a covid patient, which was kept in Covid ward, to the relatives claiming him to be non-positive.

"Since these kind of action has an impact on the lives of the relatives of the patients, the Hospital authorities should be transparent enough in disclosing correct figures and not indulge in these kind of actions." The plea reads.

"By getting information about the treatment being provided to the patient, the relatives of the patient can come to know whether proper medical protocols are being followed or not by the hospital management and doctors treating the patient. This will also enable them to seek second opinion which is also a right of the patient." The plea states further.

The plea states the following prayers:

- Your Lordships may be pleased to allow this application to join as a party to the petition.

- Your Lordships may be pleased to allow this application to give necessary directions to the state and hospital authorities to mandatorily install CCTV cameras in the ICU and ICCU of the hospitals to ensure correct treatment being given to covid and non-covid patients, to mitigate the Mis-happenings with the patients and ensure complete transparency between the hospital authorities & the patients.

- Your Lordships may be pleased to allow this application to give necessary directions to the state and hospitals authorities to disclose correct facts about the patients dying due to COVID-19 and not hand over the COVID body to the relatives of the patients claiming it to be NON-COVID.

- Your Lordships may be pleased to allow this applicationto give necessary directions to the hospital authorities to mandatorily provide the medical records and reports to the relatives of the patients on discharge or otherwise.

- Your Lordships may be pleased to allow this application to give necessary directions to the state to give formal request to Ahmedabad division of Western Railway for using the 60 refurbished coaches as isolation wards and also as beds for treatment of the covid patients.

In another development, an IA has also been moved in the matter submitting that Ayurvedic Medicines are helpful in preventing the infection and also in curing the patients from COVID-19 infection.

Further, stressing that such medicines also reduce the financial burden of the State Authorities as well as of the citizens, the IA states

"It is noticed that a very less thrust is given to the distribution and use of Ayurvedic Medicines. Wide publicity is required to be given for using Ayurvedic Medicines and for giving Ayurvedic treatment in the hospitals." The plea reads.