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Rape of nurse: NCW blames 2 hospitals

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI SEPT. 20. Following investigations into the case of rape of a 19-year-old nurse, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has noted that both the Shanti Mukund Hospital and the Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital here are "culpable due to the serious case of medical negligence'' on their part.

The Commission has also pointed out the necessity of providing a job to the victim who was the sole earning member of her family.

The investigation report by the NCW on the gruesome case names both hospitals as culpable though greater culpability has been placed on the Shanti Mukund Hospital.

The Commission has also asked for cancellation of this hospital's licence.

"The girl was raped on the premises of the hospital and left unattended for several hours. She was then referred to the GTB Hospital without proper treatment or even attention for transportation. Though the Shanti Mukund Hospital has four ophthalmologists on its panel, none of them could be reached (to treat her seriously injured eye). This shows that the hospital is not equipped to deal with emergencies. Also, a visit to the hospital has shown that there is inadequate security for nurses on duty,'' said the NCW chairperson, Poornima Advani, at a press conference here today.

Even the GTB Hospital, she added, did not give her proper treatment. "They merely noted the condition of the eye but did not examine it despite the serious injury. No seniors were called and she was sent back,'' said Dr. Advani.

According to the NCW report, the victim was finally admitted to the GTB Hospital late at night but despite her infectious eye, she was kept in the general ward.

"The NCW team that went to meet her for two consecutive days was not allowed because the hospital authorities feared infection. But all that while she was in the general ward,'' said NCW Member, Nafisa Hussain.

The NCW has recommended that since the victim was a nurse by profession and may be in danger of losing her job, the Delhi Government should provide her with a "suitable'' job. "It should be kept in mind that the girl is the only earning member of the family,'' said Dr. Advani. The Commission has also asked for counselling through professional counsellors for the victim and the family and their protection by the Delhi police.

The list also includes some general recommendations such as issuing directions to all hospitals by the State Governments to provide adequate protection to nurses on duty, especially at night, and training in self-defence for nurses.

"We are forwarding these recommendations to the Delhi Government and the other authorities concerned. We hope that the Court would take notice of this when the matter reaches that level. From our side, we recommend serious punishment to the accused,'' said Dr. Advani.

The Commission is also working on a national charter for women victims of crime.

"It will speak about rehabilitation of victims and the need for better cooperation between law enforcement agencies,'' said Dr. Advani.

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