Two premier hospital RDAs seek President's intervention over Wangchuk case

NEW DELHI: A day after the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of AIIMS wrote to President Droupadi Murmu over the Jantar Mantar crackdown and the continued hospitalisation of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, the RDA of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday also sought the President's intervention, raising concerns over patient autonomy, medical ethics, the independence of public healthcare institutions and the reported events at Jantar Mantar.In a four-page representation, the Safdarjung RDA said Wangchuk's medical condition and the need for continued hospitalisation should remain matters of independent clinical judgement, but every competent patient is entitled to dignity, informed consent and treatment in accordance with established medical ethics and the Constitution.The association said reports suggesting Wangchuk, despite being a competent patient, was allegedly not permitted to avail Leave Against Medical Advice (LAMA), if accurate, raise "serious concerns regarding informed consent, personal liberty and constitutional rights".