‘Patients' Rights Must Be Protected’: Delhi Doctors Seek President's Intervention Over Wangchuk Hospitalisation

Published 21 July 2026 · local

‘Patients' Rights Must Be Protected’: Delhi Doctors Seek President's Intervention Over Wangchuk Hospitalisation Published By, Last Updated: July 21, 2026, 13:46 IST In its letter

‘Patients' Rights Must Be Protected’: Delhi Doctors Seek President's Intervention Over Wangchuk Hospitalisation Published By, Last Updated: July 21, 2026, 13:46 IST In its letter, the AIIMS RDA raised concerns over reports that activist Sonam Wangchuk was not allowed to leave Safdarjung Hospital despite seeking a Leave Against Medical Advice. Rapid Read The association said every person admitted to a hospital must be treated first and foremost as a patient, with dignity, compassion. Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike: The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has written to President Droupadi Murmu seeking an independent, impartial and time-bound inquiry into the events that took place during Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest and Jantar Mantar and raising concerns over the continued hospitalisation of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. In its letter, the AIIMS RDA raised concerns over reports that activist Sonam Wangchuk was not allowed to leave Safdarjung Hospital despite seeking a Leave Against Medical Advice (LAMA), saying that such claims, if accurate, raised questions about patients’ autonomy and rights. In its representation, the association said reports of the alleged use of lathi-charge, tear gas and physical force against peaceful protesters, including students and doctors, were “deeply unsettling" and warranted an independent inquiry. “Reports indicating the use of lathi charge, tear gas, and physical force against a large number of peaceful protesters, including students, doctors and young citizens, are deeply unsettling." “While certain aspects of the incident remain contested, videos and eyewitness accounts available in the public domain have raised serious questions regarding the manner in which peaceful democratic dissent was handled," it said.

The RDA also flagged videos purportedly showing police personnel with their faces and name badges covered. “Particularly concerning are videos that appear to show police personnel with their faces and name badges covered, undermining transparency and accountability in law enforcement," the letter said. Referring to Wangchuk’s continued hospitalisation, the association said, “Reports suggesting that he was not permitted to leave the hospital despite expressing a desire to seek leave against medical advice, if accurate, raise important questions regarding the autonomy and rights of patients." “The principle of informed consent and a competent patient’s right to refuse or discontinue treatment are fundamental ethical and legal principles of medical practice. Any departure from these principles should be subject to due legal process and transparent justification," it said. Separately, the Resident Doctors’ Association of Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) also sought the President’s intervention, alleging that recent developments surrounding Wangchuk’s hospitalisation had raised concerns over patient rights, medical ethics, constitutional freedoms and the independence of public healthcare institutions. The association said every person admitted to a hospital must be treated first and foremost as a patient, with dignity, compassion and in accordance with medical ethics and the Constitution. The association stressed that any restriction on a patient’s liberty must be exercised strictly within the framework of law, remain proportionate and transparent, and should not compromise patient rights, the professional independence of doctors or the functioning of the hospital. The doctors also flagged reports and widely circulated visuals showing heavy security deployment inside Safdarjung Hospital, restricted access to parts of the premises and disruptions to routine hospital operations during Wangchuk’s stay.