Government to make it illegal for hospitals to withhold patients' bodies till bills are paid
Government to make it illegal for hospitals to withhold patients' bodies till bills are paid
In a move that is bound to bring relief to lakhs of people across the state, the Maharashtra government has decided to make it illegal for hospitals and nursing homes to harass relatives of dead patients into paying their medical bills by refusing to release the patients' bodies.
Health Minister Rajendra Shingane said, "We have received many complaints about hospitals in the state indulging in such acts.
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This is rampant even in rural areas. Therefore, we decided to frame certain rules, which will enable the authorities to take action against those who withhold bodies."
According to officials of the state health department, the new rules will be incorporated in the Bombay Nursing Home Act. The draft of the new rules has already been prepared.
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"We are considering incorporating the provisions of filing of FIR, imposition of fines on the hospitals and doctors and in extreme cases, cancellation of the registration of the nursing homes.
We are in consultation with the law and judiciary department on the draft rules and within a period of eight days, the rules will be incorporated in the Bombay Nursing Home Act," Shingane added.
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