Police told to allow rabies victim's family to pay last respects

New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Monday asked the police to allow the parents of a 23-years-old woman, who died of rabies in a private hospital here, to pay their "last respect" to her before the post mortem.

The court was hearing the plea of woman's family who have not been allowed to see her dead body after she died on May 9. Even after the lapse of three days, police has not conducted the post mortem citing government holidays as reason.

Delhi government counsel, Zubeda Begum assured Justice Manmohan that "all efforts shall be made to conduct the post mortem of deceased today (Monday) itself".

On May 7 the family of Kavita Joshi, who was in intensive care unit at Max Super Specialty Hospital in east Delhi's Patparganj, moved the high court after hospital administration allegedly decided to discharge Kavita on the ground that her condition may lead to spreading of the infection.

The court than directed the hospital to not to discharge her and continue the requisite treatment.

Joshi, who had gone to Manali (Himachal Pradesh) in April was bitten by a stray dog and despite being administered anti-rabies drug suffered from the disease. She died May 9 after battling for her life in the hospital.

The plea filed through advocate Avadh Kaushik said that the family was not allowed to see the dead body and police is neither conducting the post mortem and nor handing over the body to them despite the lapse of so many days.

The family informed court that Kavita was on a ventilator since May 5.

An accounts assistant in a private company, she had gone to Manali last month on an official tour when the incident occurred. She was treated for the same and given two doses of anti - rabies in Manali while a third dose was given in Delhi on her return.

After initial treatment, since May 6, the staff started insisting her parents get her discharged from the hospital and take her to some other place as there was a risk of infection.