The High Court on Monday ruled that hospitals cannot refuse to hand over bodies to their relatives over unpaid hospital bills and medical costs.In a ruling issued Monday based on several media reports it had taken into consideration five years ago, the court also ordered the formation of a fund to help poor and destitute patients.
In June 2012, a poor family admitted their child to Mohammadpur City Hospital and paid Tk 15,000, Manzill Morshed, a counsel for the petitioner, told journalist after the hearing. The child died a few days later while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The hospital authorities charged the family Tk 26,000 more for the child's care. The body would not be released to them unless the bills were paid, it said. Rights group Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a petition with the court after a national daily published a report on the incident on June 8, 2012. The decision on Monday settled the petition.
The court's decision says:
1. No clinic or hospital can hold a dead patient hostage due to an inability to pay medical costs.
2. A fund to support poor patients who cannot pay their hospital and medical bills must be formed by the health secretary and the director general of the health department.
3. A circular including the first instruction must be issued by the Health Ministry without delay and it must ensure that reaches every licensed clinic and hospital in the country.
4. The hospital will have to donate Tk 5,000 to the Anjuman Mufidul Islam welfare association for its inhumanity and violation of human rights in failing to turn over the body to the family.
Latest News