Sonam Wangchuk's wife moves Delhi HC against order refusing shift to private hospital

Sonam Wangchuks wife Gitanjali J Angmo on Monday moved the Delhi High Court challenging a single judges order that declined to interfere with the activists ongoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital after he was shifted there during his hunger strikeIn her appeal Angmo argued that the earlier order effectively confines Wangchuk to the government hospital without any formal arrest and fails to address his right to make decisions regarding his medical treatmentAppeal challenges Sunday orderThe appeal challenges the order passed by Justice Mini Pushkarna on Sunday which refused to direct the authorities to shift Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facilityAngmo contended that the order illegally confines Wangchuk to the hospital despite him not being under arrest and effectively deprives both the activist and his wife of the authority to decide his course of treatmentAccording to the appeal the order also fails to consider the principle of informed consent including an individuals right to accept or refuse medical treatmentHigh Court had declined interim reliefDuring a special hearing on Sunday Justice Pushkarna held that the governments decision to shift Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital could not be termed arbitrary given his medical conditionThe court declined to pass any interim order directing his immediate transfer to a private hospitalThe petition had been filed by Angmo who sought permission to move Wangchuk to a private healthcare facility for further treatmentCourt cites medical supervisionIn its order the single judge noted that doctors at Safdarjung Hospital were closely monitoring Wangchuks condition and observed that there was nothing to suggest that force was being used against him in violation of his bodily integrityThe court also referred to an earlier Delhi High Court order dated July 16 directing authorities to monitor Wangchuks health and provide medical intervention whenever necessaryJustice Pushkarna observed that since Wangchuk had not voluntarily admitted himself to any hospital the government was within its rights to shift him to Safdarjung Hospital considering his deteriorating healthIt is to be noted that the ultimate decision with regard to the medical condition of Mr Wangchuk would be monitored by the medical team attending him which shall take decision as per the medical protocol the single judge observedWangchuk shifted to hospital during hunger strikeWangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police on Saturday the 21st day of his hunger strike after concerns were raised over his healthHe has been on an indefinite fast since June 28 demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and raising concerns over the deaths of students linked to the earlier cancellation of the NEET examinationThe appeal filed by Angmo is expected to be heard by a division bench of the Delhi High CourtWith inputs from PTI