Delhi: Dead patient’s family accuses Moolchand hospital of negligence

In allegations of medical negligence against a doctor or a hospital, police cannot directly register an FIR. Instead they have to first take an expert opinion

Published on: May 17, 2025, 05:32:19 IST

By Ridhima Gupta

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Delhi Police have received a complaint of alleged medical negligence against Moolchand Hospital in Lajpat Nagar following the death of a 30-year-old patient, officers said on Thursday

A 2005 Supreme Court order mandates police to first take an expert opinion in such cases from the Delhi Medical Council — the statutory body that regulates medical practice in the Capital — or from any medical college.

No FIR has been filed yet, as police are awaiting the postmortem report, they added. The hospital has denied the allegation, stating that all due protocols were followed during treatment.

In cases of alleged medical negligence, a 2005 Supreme Court ruling bars police from registering an FIR without first seeking expert medical opinion.

“The autopsy was conducted by a medical board at AIIMS and video recorded. The body was handed over to the family. We are waiting for the autopsy report before taking further steps,” a senior police officer said.

The patient, Heem Kumar Singh from Hajipur Keda near Agra, was admitted to the hospital on May 6 with persistent stomach pain. He died on Thursday, according to hospital staff and his family.

DCP (south east) Ravi Kumar Singh said a police team visited the hospital and seized treatment records.

According to the deceased’s younger brother, Bhagwan Singh, 29, doctors initially said the pain was due to kidney issues. On May 9, they informed the family that Heem Kumar’s left kidney was severely damaged and required immediate removal. Despite a second surgery, the infection worsened, and he died on Thursday.

“For two weeks, doctors told us his condition was under control. But on Wednesday, when I told them we couldn’t afford further costly treatment, their attitude suddenly changed,” the brother alleged in his complaint.

While the treating doctor did not respond to queries, the hospital administration called the allegations baseless.

“Our doctors followed all protocols and did their best. The patient’s condition and treatment were communicated to the family at every stage,” the hospital said in a statement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and more across India. Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News along with Delhi Election 2025 and Delhi Election Result 2025 Live, New Delhi Election Result Live, Kalkaji Election Result Live at Hindustan Times.