Court orders family and state support for patient's home care and rehabilitation, emphasizing patient’s well-being over financial disputes.
In a landmark decision, the Calcutta High Court has directed Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals Limited to discharge Ms. Poonam Gupta, a patient who has recovered from her injuries and no longer requires indoor treatment, despite substantial unpaid bills. The judgment was delivered by Justice Krishna Rao on May 8, 2026, in the case of Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals Limited v. State of West Bengal.
Ms. Gupta was admitted to the hospital following a severe head injury from a road accident in September 2021. Over her prolonged stay, hospital bills accumulated to over Rs. 1 crore, with only Rs. 15,000 paid by her husband, Mr. Jaiprakash Gupta, at the time of admission, and Rs. 5,70,000 covered by insurance. The hospital had sought court intervention after complaints to the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission failed to resolve the issue.
The court emphasized that private hospitals cannot indefinitely hold patients who have recovered, even if outstanding bills remain unpaid. The judgment highlighted the importance of ensuring a patient's care and rehabilitation outside the hospital, with support from the state and family. Justice Rao ordered the state authorities to provide a wheelchair free of cost to Ms. Gupta before her discharge.
A committee from Calcutta Medical College examined Ms. Gupta, concluding she was stable enough for home care, where her physical rehabilitation and tracheostomy tube management could be overseen by trained paramedical staff. The court ordered Mr. Gupta to ensure her care at home, with the provision for necessary treatment at government hospitals on a priority basis. It also instructed hospitals to admit her as an indoor patient if required in the future.
Ms. Gupta’s husband expressed financial incapacity to pay the bills, citing improper treatment as a cause for her prolonged hospitalization. However, the court ruled the hospital cannot claim the unpaid amount from him or the patient, though it may pursue reimbursement through insurance channels if permissible by law.
The judgment stressed that the order was passed under unique circumstances and should not serve as a precedent for future cases. It underscores the court's role in balancing patient welfare against financial liabilities, prompting necessary guidelines for handling similar situations where patients are left without support post-recovery.
Bottom line:-
Private hospitals cannot indefinitely hold patients who have recovered and no longer require indoor treatment, even if outstanding bills remain unpaid. Patient's well-being and rehabilitation can be ensured outside the hospital, with proper arrangements made by the government and family.
Statutory provision(s): Healthcare Law, West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission regulations, State Urban Development Agency guidelines.
