RTPCR Report Not Mandatory In Emergency Cases, Such As With Pregnancy: Telangana HC

RTPCR report of pregnant women: The Telangana High Court on Monday directed government hospitals to refrain from demanding RTPCR reports in cases of COVID-19 emergencies, such as with pregnancy. This order comes following reports of a pregnant woman's death in Hyderabad on May 14 after hospitals refused to admit her for treatment.

The 22-year-old woman, who passed away in an ambulance Friday, was reportedly not COVID-19 positive, Times of India reports. After she felt unwell in the morning, the family tried to find a hospital bed with a ventilator for her. She reached Women's Hospital in Koti locality but could not survive.

RTPCR Report Of Pregnant Women: Is It Compulsory?

The Telangana HC bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy brought notice to emergency health situations in the face of the pandemic, with respect to the case of the pregnant woman's death. The court has asked the Director-General of Police to convene with law and order authorities and ensure citizens approaching hospitals for life support are not turned away, as per Live Law. 

The advocate representing the case said the woman was "already in labour" and that the incident could be called for "medical negligence." The court invoked a similar incident that occurred in Hyderabad last year when a pregnant woman was denied hospital admission resulting in her death.

Another such report emerged from Manipur in August 2020 wherein a 20-year-old pregnant woman died after five hospitals denied her admission.

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