Golden Hour rule not enforced despite order
Mumbai: Medical aid to persons involved in train accidents within the Golden Hour the first one hour after the accident is said to be the most crucial period is among the recommendations ordered by the Bombay High Court. Over three years after the judgment, many of the guidelines of the high court are gathering dust.
The courts order in October 2004 came during the hearing on a public interest litigation filed by city orthopaedic Dr Sarosh Mehta, who highlighted the problem of delayed medical aid to persons who fell out of running trains or were knocked down while crossing railway tracks.
A slew of measures were ordered by the HC, including that the accident victims should be rushed to the nearest hospital – private or government – to increase the chances of recovery.
The usual practice by the railways was to take the victim to a government or public hospital, despite the fact that a private hospital situated nearby could have provided more timely help to the victim.
While the railways were asked to bear the the medical expenses, the high court asked private hospitals not to insist on a deposit and provide emergency medical care. Time lost on preparing a panchnama in such cases meant delayed treatment, but the court said that doctors should not insist on a panchnama before providing emergency medical aid.
Both Central and Western Railways were asked to set up 24-hour telephone helpline numbers to report railway accidents.
All railway stations in the city were to provide free parking space for ambulances, and telephone and contact details of ambulance services, private dispensaries and hospitals in the area were to be provided to every station manager.
The high court had also directed the railways to equip every station with two lightweight and collapsible stretchers, one rechargeable torch, disposable hand gloves and a first aid box. But three years later, most suburban railway stations remain illequipped to provide medical aid.
Over 3,000 persons die every year in accidents on the suburban railway lines, either falling out of a train or being run over while crossing the railway tracks.
HARVARD VIEW Researchers from Harvard University along with the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute and the University of Mumbai brought out a scientific paper in 2007 to put forward the view that the city lacked a systematic approach to disasters.
The paper, Mumbaivoices, was prepared after interviewing 160 persons affected in the 7/11 attacks. Its recommendations included making ambulances available near stations and widening the space near stations. It also stressed on the training of railway, police and fire brigade workers to manage sensitivity of an anxious population.
The courts order in October 2004 came during the hearing on a public interest litigation filed by city orthopaedic Dr Sarosh Mehta, who highlighted the problem of delayed medical aid to persons who fell out of running trains or were knocked down while crossing railway tracks.
A slew of measures were ordered by the HC, including that the accident victims should be rushed to the nearest hospital – private or government – to increase the chances of recovery.
The usual practice by the railways was to take the victim to a government or public hospital, despite the fact that a private hospital situated nearby could have provided more timely help to the victim.
While the railways were asked to bear the the medical expenses, the high court asked private hospitals not to insist on a deposit and provide emergency medical care. Time lost on preparing a panchnama in such cases meant delayed treatment, but the court said that doctors should not insist on a panchnama before providing emergency medical aid.
Both Central and Western Railways were asked to set up 24-hour telephone helpline numbers to report railway accidents.
All railway stations in the city were to provide free parking space for ambulances, and telephone and contact details of ambulance services, private dispensaries and hospitals in the area were to be provided to every station manager.
The high court had also directed the railways to equip every station with two lightweight and collapsible stretchers, one rechargeable torch, disposable hand gloves and a first aid box. But three years later, most suburban railway stations remain illequipped to provide medical aid.
Over 3,000 persons die every year in accidents on the suburban railway lines, either falling out of a train or being run over while crossing the railway tracks.
HARVARD VIEW Researchers from Harvard University along with the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute and the University of Mumbai brought out a scientific paper in 2007 to put forward the view that the city lacked a systematic approach to disasters.
The paper, Mumbaivoices, was prepared after interviewing 160 persons affected in the 7/11 attacks. Its recommendations included making ambulances available near stations and widening the space near stations. It also stressed on the training of railway, police and fire brigade workers to manage sensitivity of an anxious population.