Supreme Court Enhances Trauma Care Framework to Uphold Right to Life

The Supreme Court of India has asserted that the right to trauma care is an essential aspect of the right to life. It called for a broad systemic intervention, advocating for a uniform trauma care framework and emphasizing the necessity of effective good samaritan laws.

The court issued interim directions requiring states and union territories to integrate all emergency and ambulance services with Helpline 112 and to promote this through extensive mass-media campaigns within three months. It also called for the establishment of efficient good samaritan grievance redressal systems at state and district levels.

The court responded to a petition from Savelife Foundation that emphasized trauma care as a public law right in India. It highlighted that immediate care in accident situations is crucial, as delays significantly reduce survival chances.

Furthermore, the decision mandates states and UTs to adopt a national protocol for medical rescue of trauma cases and mandates stringent compliance standards for ambulances, including GPS tracking. A directive was issued for union-wide data collection systems, ensuring improved trauma care and response times.

The court stressed the need for multi-lingual public awareness campaigns and challenged states to adopt the 2025 cashless road accident treatment scheme within three months, to ensure comprehensive trauma care coverage across India.

(With inputs from agencies.)