The Delhi High Court has said that government and private hospitals and nursing homes cannot refuse medical treatment to survivors of rape, acid attack and sexual violence. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma issued a slew of directions on Monday in a case where a 16-year-old girl was raped by her father.
“It is incumbent upon all hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, medical centres to provide free medical care and treatment to rape victims/survivors, POCSO case survivors and similar victims/ survivors of sexual attacks etc,” the court said.
The court also said that denying treatment to sexual assault victims was an offence for which the doctors, staff and management of the hospital could be penalised.
Noting that survivors of sexual violence face difficulties in availing free medical treatment, the bench said, “The free treatment also extends to any tests, diagnostics, and long term medical care required for the victim/survivor… Such victim/survivor shall be provided physical and mental counselling as may be required.”
The court ordered that every medical facility in Delhi would have to put up a board stating “free out-patient and in-patient medical treatment” is available for “victims/survivors of sexual assault, rape, gang rape, acid attacks”.