Ghaziabad 4-year-old rape case: “She was alive for two hours”, father of victim alleges two private hospitals denied emergency care
His petition was heard by the Supreme Court on June 16. He alleged that Khajan Singh Manvi Health Services and St Joseph Hospital refused to provide immediate treatment even though they saw that the child was bleeding in his arms and losing consciousness.
“He was alive for two hours after we found him,” he said, adding that both hospitals refused to examine him. According to him, “They did not even yield to his objection that time was critical in saving the child.”
“He was alive for two hours after we found him,” he added, saying refusing treatment cost him valuable time.
Allegations of Rejection from Private Hospitals
The father said that the first hospital he reached turned them away, stating that it did not have the necessary facilities. He also claimed that no ambulance was arranged for the transfer.
At the second hospital, he alleged, staff refused treatment, citing medical-legal concerns, and recommended he go to a government facility instead.
“I begged with folded hands,” he said. “But the hospital didn’t even arrange an ambulance.” He also said that despite repeated applications, no hospital examined the child before referring him.
Journey to the State Hospital and the Child’s Death
The girl was eventually taken to MMG Hospital, the nearest government facility, but she died on the way. Doctors later declared him dead on arrival.
“If two hospitals had treated her, my daughter could have survived,” he said. “If my daughter is not alive today, hospitals are also responsible.”
What Happened on March 16?
According to the report, the boy was playing outside his house in Nandgram on March 16 when a neighbor named Gaurav allegedly lured him away around 6 pm.
The accused reportedly took her to a nearby market, bought snacks like samosas, jalebis and lollipops and then took her to a secluded area about 500 meters away.
There he allegedly raped her and hit her in the head with a brick, leaving her seriously injured.
Searching and Finding the Child
The father, a house painter, was at work when his son informed him that the girl was missing. He initially thought he might be nearby, but as panic grew, he rushed home at 7:15 p.m.
Search parties were formed and neighbors helped find him. After a search that lasted about two hours, the father found him around 9 p.m.
“His clothes had been taken off and he was bleeding profusely,” he said.
He said that they took him to the nearest hospital by motorcycle, holding him in their arms.
Supreme Court Cases and the Question of Responsibility
The Supreme Court has reportedly asked hospitals whether they are willing to compensate parents. But the father said the real issue was not compensation.
“There is something that needs to be fixed, way beyond compensation: accountability.”
The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) found the veracity of the hospitals’ allegations that they did not provide timely care.
The high court also asked a hospital for voluntary compensation and stated that it could determine the amount if they did not agree.
Activist Criticism and Hospital Response
Child rights activist Shara Ashraf Prayag, who supported the petition, said basic first aid should be provided at the first hospital before referral.
He criticized St Joseph’s Hospital, describing it as a well-equipped charity and claimed doctors were refusing treatment. He also questioned allegations that the father had refused care.
St Joseph’s Hospital spokesperson Lalit Goya gave a different version to TOI, stating that the child was in the emergency room for less than five minutes and doctors were on their way when the staff chose to take him elsewhere.
He added that the lack of an ambulance or medical supervision during the transfer may have worsened his condition.
Allegations Regarding the Crime Scene and Police Intervention
The father also told TOI that he had informed the police about suspected drug use, claiming that syringes and empty vials were found at his daughter’s location.
He claimed that the defendant had used drugs before the assault, but said no action was taken despite his repeated complaints about the area.
[With TOI inputs]
