The Supreme Court criticised a private hospital and a doctor for allegedly refusing emergency treatment to a four-year-old rape survivor in Ghaziabad
July 17, 2026: The Supreme Court on Friday strongly criticised a private hospital and one of its doctors over allegations that they refused emergency treatment to a four-year-old rape survivor in Ghaziabad, who later died from her injuries. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, described the hospital’s alleged conduct as “merciless” and “insensitive”, questioning the doctor’s professional ethics. The court observed that every medical practitioner has a duty to provide emergency treatment regardless of a patient’s financial condition and indicated it would examine possible action against the hospital when the matter is heard again next week.
The Bench also continued its scrutiny of the police investigation, pointing to serious procedural lapses. It noted that the FIR was registered a day after the incident despite the victim being a minor and questioned why charges under the POCSO Act and rape provisions were not invoked initially. The court had earlier summoned the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner and the Station House Officer of Nandgram Police Station to explain the delays and shortcomings in the investigation.
According to the victim’s family, the child was taken to two private hospitals that allegedly refused to treat her before she was shifted to the district hospital, where she was declared dead. Her father claimed she remained alive for nearly two hours after being found and that timely medical care could have saved her life. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Supreme Court found merit in the family’s allegations regarding the delay in emergency treatment. The court has directed the hospitals to make voluntary contributions to the victim’s family while emphasising that accountability, not merely compensation, remains the central issue in the case.