It has been a month since an 8-year-old girl was brutally raped at Wadala. While the accused is still scot-free, the little patient writhes in pain at hospital. Till Friday, she was kept in full view of other patients and was talked about in whispers by ward boys and nurses. Time and again, they pointed at her and said, "Rape victim udhar hai." (There lies the rape victim.)
What was the extent of the survivor's injuries?
Chitra Wagh, a member of the Maharashtra Women's Commission said: "Her mouth was stuffed with pebbles, gravel and sand by the accused, so she may not have shouted while he raped her. Her mouth and private parts have sustained gruesome injuries. The wounds are deep and grave. In a gross example of misconduct, no psychiatric counseling has been provided to the patient. Instead, she is being branded and taunted by nurses and ward boys."
After much noise created by activists and the media, she has been shifted in a room attached to the ward where she lies in a miserable state.
Probe into her ill-treatment at the hands of Sion hosp docs
On Monday, Wagh visited the patient at BMC-run Sion Hospital to review her condition. The commission has now ordered the BMC to launch a detailed inquiry into the alleged ill treatment of the patient at the hands of the Sion Hospital's doctors.
Amendments made, provisions charted, still no change
After the gang rape in Delhi that occurred two years ago, the Municipal Corporation Act in Mumbai was also amended. Provisions were charted to keep any victim of sexual assault in isolation ward by the hospital as also it is mandated that all expenses related to the health be paid by the civic body.
In case of the 8-year-old patient, these provisions were blatantly violated by the hospital.
Astronomical budget, no funds for public healthcare?
The State Women's Commission has rapped the BMC and pointed out that when the civic body has an astronomical annual budget of Rs37,000 crore, then why is it that the girl's father is being compelled to buy medicines and pay out of his pocket for the his daughter's healthcare.
"The father was asked to buy medicines and pay for CT scan tests amounting to Rs2,000 by the Sion Hospital's doctors. The medicines he was asked to buy were on the scheduled list of BMC's free medicines. Also, there is a poor patient's fund in place at the hospital for meting out free medicines to the patient. None of this was taken care of, instead, there are glaring loopholes in dealing with such a sensitive situation," said Wagh.
Meanwhile, the police have made no headway in nabbing the accused.
Committee formed by BMC to probe the treatment given
A four-member committee has been formulated by the BMC, consisting of medical professors and headed by director of BMC medical colleges Dr Suhasini Nagda, to inquire whether timely and prompt treatment was given to the patient as also whether the services provided by the doctors were scientifically appropriate and satisfactory.
BMC's additional commissioner (health) Sanjay Deshmukh said, "We have formulated the committee to investigate the matter."
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