HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SRI G.S. SINGHVI AND HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE G. BHAVANI PRASAD Writ Petition No.3786 of 2006 Between: E.V.Srinivasa Rao … Petitioner And Resident Medical Officer, Vijayawada Government Hospital, Vijayawada and others. … Respondents :: ORDER:: Counsel for the Petitioner: Letter Counsel for the Respondents: Government Pleader for Medical Health and Family Welfare April 24, 2006 Per G.S. Singhvi, CJ A clipping of Eenadu Telugu Daily dated 16-2-2006 suggesting that the authorities of Government General Hospital, Vijayawada have driven out six poor aged patients from the hospital sent by one E.V.Srinivasa Rao claiming himself to be social worker residing at Hyderabad was treated by this Court as a petition in public interest. In response to the notice issued by the Court, Dr.T. Ram Prasad, Superintendent, Government General Hospital, Vijayawada has filed affidavit dated 31-3-2006 in which details of the treatment given to each of the five persons namely, Sri P. Venkateswarlu, Smt. Laxmayamma (real name is Akkiboyina Durgamba w/o. Rama Rao), Sri N. Jagadish, Sri Khasim, and Sri P. Narayana, as also the circumstances in which they were admitted in the hospital has been given. According to Dr.Ram Prasad, Sri P. Venkateswarlu, who was admitted in the hospital on 11-1-2006, voluntarily left the hospital on his own accord on 16-1-2006. He again came to the hospital on 28-1-2006 and was re-admitted into Male Ortho Ward. On 14-2-2006, he again left, came back on 15-2-2006 and died on 17-2-2006. Smt.Akkiboyina Durgamba was admitted on 1-2-2006 and was discharged on 10-2-2006 in the presence of her relatives. She was treated by Neuro and Ortho Surgeons. On 15-2- 2006, she was found near NH-5. She was re-admitted in Ortho Female Ward on the same day and was discharged on 21-3-2006 at her request. Sri N. Jagadish was admitted in the hospital on 11-1-2006 because he had suffered injuries in road accident. His X-ray was done and two fractures were found. However, he did not cooperate in further investigation. In para 7 of his affidavit, Dr.T. Ram Prasad has averred as under: 7 . Regarding above four cases, it is submitted that the patients were repeatedly admitted and were given best possible treatment on all occasions. As they were abandoned by their relatives, they started to opt for the ultimate choice of begging in the proximity of Government General Hospital, Vijayawada, which is nearer to NH-5. In case of Smt.A. Durgamba alias Laxmayamma, as quoted in newspaper, she was discharged from Government General Hospital, Vijayawada, her relatives have taken her, who later appear to have abandoned her near NH-5, for which the hospital authorities cannot be blamed as irresponsible, as published in print media. In this regard, we bring to the kind notice of Hon’ble Court of Law that whenever anybody is discharged from hospital, the attendants of the patients usually abandon them at nearby streets without taking such people to their homes. As a matter of routine, again 108 ambulance services are used to bring the patients and for re-admission into Government General Hospital, Vijayawada with a totally changed name and address.” As regards the remaining two patients, Dr. Ram Prasad has made the following statement: “ 6 . Sri P. Narayana was admitted on 20-1-2006 with IP No.480 with cerebrovascular accident. Depending on the condition of patient, appropriate treatment was given by specialists, and the patient has regained consciousness and he is found absconded on 13-2-2006. He stayed in the hospital for 25 days. He was again seen on NH-5 proximity at Government General Hospital, Vijayawada and he was readmitted on 15-2-2006 in surgical ward with multiple abrasions with scabs with IP No.1180. Later, he was transferred to chronic disease ward S-III located in old Government General Hospital block. Patient is still receiving treatment till today (27-3- 2006) (Xerox copy of case sheets are enclosed for reference). 8. Sri Khasim, who is seen on NH-5 is not the patient of the hospital at any time and he could not give any address as on admission on 15-2-2006 as he is a destitute and aged about 60 years and found mal nutrition state. He received necessary treatment to improve his general condition. Meanwhile, he developed stroke on 18-2-2006 and he expired on 19-2-2006. (Xerox copy of case sheet is enclosed for reference.)” In para 9, the deponent has given the version of hospital authorities in regard to an unidentified person who was found dead in the green-belt of NH-5. The same read as under: “9. It is submitted that, as regards news item published in Eenadu daily newspaper that unidentified person’s name is not disclosed, his occupation is known as Lorry Driver and was found dead in green-belt places besides NH- 5 in between the trees, which is in proximity to the hospital. It is further submitted that it was very difficult to identify unknown person found dead on NH-5. His details can be ascertained by the Police Department, as there was no data either in form of IP ticket or OP ticket of the Government General Hospital, Vijayawada. i . This hospital dutiful staff never driven away any patient from Government General Hospital, Vijayawada as reported in print media. ii. The Resident Medical Officer of Government General Hospital, Vijayawada did not give any elusive reply to news reporters in connection with the above issue as alleged.” Having gone through the affidavit, we are satisfied that no further action is called for in the matter. With the above observations, the writ petition is disposed of. G.S. SINGHVI, CJ G. BHAVANI PRASAD, J April 24, 2006 ARS / svs