Police, registered hospitals and all other authorities have been asked to strictly follow them
Bhubaneswar: In a bid to ensure Good Samaritans do not face any kind of harassment while admitting any injured person to hospital, the state government has issued guidelines to deal with them.
The Commerce and Transport department has issued the guidelines recently and asked all hospitals, police and other authorities in the state to follow them whiling dealing with the Good Samaritans or any person who makes a phone call to the police to give information about any accident, injury or death.
Except an eyewitness, no other person has to reveal personal details such as full name, address, phone number etc. on the phone or in person.
As per the guidelines, after getting information about an injured person on the road, the police have to allow the Good Samaritan to leave. “No further questions shall be asked if the Good Samaritan does not desire to be witness in the matter.”
Hospital staff also cannot force the Good Samaritan for personal information. However, they can make a request to the person concerned to give present and permanent address with the contact number for the purpose of reward or trial.
The guidelines also say disciplinary or departmental action would be initiated by the government against the concerned public officials who force or intimidate a Good Samaritan for revealing his/her name or personal details.
“He/she may shall be shown due courtesy and shall be treated respectfully without any discrimination on the grounds of gender, religion, nationality, caste or any other grounds,” the guidelines say.
The government has asked the hospitals to issue acknowledgement to such persons on official letter pad undersigned by a doctor not below the rank of assistant surgeon.
All registered public and private hospitals shall not detain the Good Samaritan or the bystander, demand payment for registration and admission costs unless the Good Samaritan or the bystander is a family member or relative of the injured.
All registered public and private hospitals cannot detain the Good Samaritan or the bystander, demand payment for registration and admission costs unless the Good Samaritan or the bystander is a family member or relative of the injured.
If a doctor (either private or government) will not provide proper care to the injured in an emergency situation pertaining to road accidents, disciplinary action will be taken against such doctor under chapter 7 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
The Good Samaritan shall not be liable for any civil or criminal liability. They shall not be compelled to lodge FIR at police station nor shall the eye witness be asked to do so either by police agency or by medical authority.
The hospitals have been asked to include guidelines as one of the topics for discussion in every induction training programme meant for doctors.
The government has also made provision to reward the Good Samaritan with `2000 cash as an incentive in each case. The reward will be paid out of the Orissa Road Safety Society Fund.
Transporting to the hospital and cost thereof will be reimbursed, if the victim is shifted to the hospital in a hired vehicle. Bill for the same may not be insisted.
PNN
