Hospital visitors can now say ICU to patients

MUMBAI: Following a recommendation of the state human rights commission (SHRC), the state government has decided to open up intensive care units (ICU) in state-run and civic hospitals to visitors.
The government''s direction came last month following the SHRC''s probe into a complaint lodged by an advocate, Shiva Salian.
He had complained of a human rights violation after being denied an opportunity to see his wife during her last moments at KEM Hospital in Parel in January 2001.
While the government has framed rules for state-, civic- and trust-run hospitals, these are in the form of guidelines. Hospital authorities will have the final say on its implementation, said sources.
The rules state that hospitals can allow visitors and relatives to see patients in the ICUs three times a day, subject to certain restrictions.
According to the rules, every patient must be allowed only one visitor to prevent crowding. Moreover, no one should be let in if doctors are attending to the patient.
In his order, SHRC chairperson Justice Anant Mane observed that although the primary obligation of medical personnel was to the patient, when a patient was on his death bed, the needs of the family ought to take precedence.
"To ignore the right of a bereaved family can lead to a violation of human value and dignity," he said.
State principal secretary (health) G S Gill told TOI that the government was acting on advice given by experts who had said that the presence of relatives could help reassure patients who were already recovering.
"When patients are in an ambulatory state and not on ventilator support, we will let people visit them, provided adequatemeasures are taken for infection control," he said.
According to an official of the director general of health services, "We have decided to put up glass panels at ICUs so that relatives can see the patients."
He said other plans included putting up cameras that would help relatives get a better view.