Supreme Court Declares Access to Trauma
Care a Fundamental Part of Right to Life Under Article 21
¨
Supreme Court of India
ruled in SaveLIFE Foundation & Anr. vs Union of India & Ors that access
to trauma care is an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India.
¨ The Court directed
time-bound reforms in emergency medical response, ambulance services, and
trauma data systems.
¨ Article 21 states that no
person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty except according to the
procedure established by law.
¨ Through various
judgments, the Supreme Court has interpreted Article 21 to include rights
related to health, dignity, and emergency medical treatment.
¨ The Court ordered the
integration of emergency helplines 100, 101, 102, 108, 1033, and 1091 into the
single national emergency number 112 within three months.
¨ 112 functions as India’s
integrated emergency response number under the Emergency Response Support
System (ERSS).
¨ The Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare has been directed to issue guidelines for a National Trauma
Registry within eight weeks.
¨
States and Union
Territories must establish State Trauma Registries covering both public and
private healthcare facilities.
¨
All registered ambulances
must comply with the National Ambulance Code.
¨ Ambulances must install
GPS or vehicle-tracking systems and integrate with the 112 emergency helpline.
¨ States and Union Territories must establish physical and digital grievance redressal mechanisms for Good Samaritans within three months.
¨ The judgment aims to strengthen emergency healthcare systems and ensure timely medical assistance for accident victims and other emergency cases.
