India: Admission policies and procedures at private and public medical institutions, including whether individuals seeking medical treatment are required to submit a police report or First Information Report (FIR) that explains how the injuries were sustained before the individual can be admitted and treated; whether medical authorities are required to report any suspicious injury to the police authorities
The following information was provided by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of e-Medicine and Promotions at the Kalra Hospital Sri Ram Cardio-Thoracic & Neurosciences Centre (Kalra Hospital SRCNC), a private hospital located in New Delhi, in a telephone interview on 2 January 2007. The admission policies and procedures of medical institutions vary from one hospital to another. The CEO explained that at the Kalra Hospital SRCNC a patient with health insurance who presents himself or herself at the hospital will be asked to show a health insurance card. An initial assessment will then be conducted to determine whether the patient can be treated at the hospital and if it will be as an inpatient or outpatient. Once the patient has been treated and is ready for discharge, the discharge papers are given to the insurance bearer for signature. In such cases, there is no charge to the patient as the hospital charges its fees directly to the insurance company through the patient's card. Patients with no health insurance who receive medical treatment at the Karla Hospital SRCNC have to pay for their treatment. The CEO also explained that treatment at public hospitals is funded by the government; patients only need to pay for their prescriptions and any "consumables," that is, medical supplies used to provide their treatment.
The CEO stated that in cases of crime-related injuries, which are called medical legal cases, the Kalra Hospital SRCNC will provide first aid to the patient and complete a medical legal report or certificate. The report contains a condensed statement from the patient, a statement from any witness or witnesses, the findings of the crime scene, a description of the wound and a description of the weapon, if any was used. The police are then notified, and after they take statements from the patient and any witnesses, the hospital proceeds with the treatment. If the patient is brought to the hospital by the police, first aid is administered before the police can take statements.
The CEO explained, in correspondence of 2 January 2007, that the hospital also has to notify the police when an injury is a "grievous hurt"; for example, an injury that results in permanent disability, an injury in which a bone is fractured, "vitriolage" (throwing acid on a woman's face), castration and even "breaking a tooth" are all considered grievous hurts and described under Section 320 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 320 of the Indian Penal Code states that:
[t]he following kinds of hurt only are designated as "grievous":
First. - Emasculation.
Secondly. - Permanent privation of the sight of either eye.
Thirdly. - Permanent privation of the hearing of either ear.
Fourthly. - Privation of any member or joint.
Fifthly. - Destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of any member or joint.
Sixthly. - Permanent disfiguration of the head or face.
Seventhly. - Fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth.
Eighthly. - Any hurt which endangers life or which causes the sufferer to be during the space of twenty days in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuits. (1860)
Corroborating information or information from other medical institutions could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
India. 1860. The Indian Penal Code: Act No. 45 of 1860. <http://indiacode.nic.in/fullact1.asp?tfnm=186045> [Accessed 2 Jan. 2007]
Kalra Hospital Sri Ram Cardio-Thoracic and Neurosciences Centre (Kalra Hospital SRCNC), New Delhi. 2 January 2007a. Telephone interview with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of e-Medicine and Promotions.
_____. 2 January 2007b. Correspondence from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of e-Medicine and Promotions.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact the University College of Medical Sciences and the MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response.
Apollo Hospitals Group, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Indian Medical Association, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Country Office for India, the Lok Nayak Hospital, the Medical Council of India, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response.
Internet sites, including: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Apollo Hospitals Group, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, Indian Medical Association, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalra Hospital Sri Ram Cardio-Thoracic and Neurosciences Centre (Kalra Hospital SRCNC), Lok Nayak Hospital, Medical Council of India, Medindia.com, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Physicians for Human Rights, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, University College of Medical Sciences, World Health Organization.