The Delhi High Court has directed that renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk be moved from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta for ongoing medical treatment. This ruling came in response to a plea filed by Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, who expressed concerns over his declining health following an extended hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
Court Directs Comprehensive Care at Medanta
During the proceedings, the High Court bench outlined specific directives for Wangchuk's transfer. "What we propose to do is we get him shifted to Medanta. He will be treated there. All treatment details, everything, reports etc which have been done at Safdarjung will be supplied to Medanta," the court stated. Furthermore, it instructed Medanta, a private hospital, to establish a dedicated panel of doctors to oversee Wangchuk's care.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, conveyed that there was no objection to Wangchuk's transfer to Medanta. However, Mehta emphasized a crucial condition: Wangchuk should not discharge himself from the hospital against medical advice. He articulated concerns that if the activist returned to the protest site prematurely, his health could further deteriorate, posing a significant risk.
"He can choose his hospital and his doctors. He should not get discharged against medical advice. What if he goes back to the protest site? What if something happens to him? He cannot take such a risk," Mehta submitted.
The court, after reviewing medical reports and consulting with treating doctors, affirmed that Wangchuk required continuous medical monitoring. While doctors believed any hospital could provide such oversight, they recommended he remain under hospital supervision.
Resident Doctors Raise Concerns Over Patient Rights
Concurrently, the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital sent a letter to President Droupadi Murmu. The association voiced serious concerns regarding alleged denials of 'Leave Against Medical Advice' (LAMA) to Wangchuk, despite reports suggesting he was a "competent patient."
The RDA's representation highlighted potential infringements on informed consent, personal liberty, and constitutional rights if these reports were accurate. They also called for an independent inquiry into the circumstances at Jantar Mantar, where Wangchuk and his supporters were protesting before his reported forceful transfer to Safdarjung Hospital.
Expressing "deep concern" over Wangchuk's prolonged hospitalization, the association reiterated that every patient is entitled to dignity, compassion, and care aligned with medical ethics and the Constitution. The RDA also flagged what it described as "extraordinary security arrangements" at Safdarjung Hospital, citing reports of restricted access, sealed sections, and heavy security deployment, which they feared could disrupt routine patient care and portray the hospital as an extension of law enforcement rather than a healing institution.
The association stressed the importance of protecting healthcare workers and citizens from intimidation, advocating for measures to restore transparency, institutional independence, and public trust in healthcare facilities.