Supreme Court Mandates Trauma Care Helpline and Grievance System Across India
Supreme Court's Directive on Trauma Care
File image of the Supreme Court of India. (Photo: X)
New Delhi, May 28: The Supreme Court has emphasized that the right to trauma care is a fundamental aspect of the right to life. It has instructed all states and Union territories to implement a single emergency helpline number '112' within three months and to create an effective grievance redressal system for good samaritans.
A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar mandated that states provide regular compliance updates through monthly meetings and by posting the minutes on relevant online platforms.
This ruling was made on May 26 in response to a petition from Savelife Foundation, which highlighted the necessity of recognizing trauma care as a legal right within India's public law framework.
The court noted that individuals involved in accidents often experience shock and disorientation, leaving them vulnerable and reliant on bystanders for urgent medical assistance.
"In such critical moments, every second without medical attention can drastically reduce the chances of survival. Timeliness is, quite literally, a form of medicine," the court remarked.
The bench discussed the various phases of care following an accident, advocating for a comprehensive trauma care system that incorporates input from all relevant parties.
It acknowledged that despite the desire to assist, bystanders often hesitate due to fears of legal repercussions or the psychological burden of the situation.
"To overcome these challenges, a systematic approach is essential, which includes establishing a standardized framework for trauma care, enhancing public awareness, and implementing effective good samaritan laws. The right to trauma care is a vital component of the right to life as outlined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution," the bench stated.
The court has allowed the Centre to formulate a medical rescue protocol for trauma cases within three months and has instructed all states and UTs to implement this protocol promptly.
Additionally, the bench has ordered the Centre, states, and UTs to launch extensive, structured, multilingual media campaigns promoting helpline 112, the protections for good samaritans under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles Act, and the grievance redressal system, along with the cashless treatment scheme (PM RAHAT), ensuring compliance reporting within a month.
"Furthermore, states and UTs that have not yet adopted the cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims (PM RAHAT) must take necessary actions to fully implement these schemes within three months," it concluded, scheduling a follow-up in four months.