Fresh civic circular stresses that emergency departments must record MLC details promptly to avoid delays in treatment and legal procedures
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a fresh circular directing hospitals across the city to strictly maintain medico-legal case (MLC) registers in their emergency departments. The move comes after several complaints that patients involved in accidents or violent incidents were either delayed or asked to visit another hospital solely to register their medico-legal cases.
Hospitals Told to Record All MLC Details in Emergency Departments
In the circular, the civic body emphasised that proper documentation of medico-legal cases is a critical responsibility of hospital casualty departments. According to the directive, the casualty medical officer must ensure that every MLC is recorded accurately and immediately.
“All MLCs are vital records,” the civic body stated, adding that hospital staff must clearly mention details such as the nature of injuries, the estimated age of the wound, and the probable weapon used to cause the injury. These details play a key role in legal documentation and medical evaluation.
Complaints of Patients Being Sent to Other Hospitals
According to a report by The Times of India, the circular was issued after repeated complaints of procedural lapses in accident, disaster, or violence-related cases. In several instances, hospitals reportedly referred patients to other facilities merely to complete medico-legal paperwork.
Such referrals often resulted in unnecessary delays in treatment and created complications in the legal process, especially in emergency situations.
Medical Experts Stress Importance of Proper Records
A former medical officer at Sant Muktabai Hospital said that although maintaining medico-legal registers is mandatory, some hospitals do not always follow the requirement strictly.
“Keeping these records is essential because they assist police investigations and become important documents during court proceedings,” the officer explained.
Case of Injured Child Highlighted the Issue
The issue had earlier gained attention after a nine-year-old boy injured in a two-wheeler accident in Malad was taken to MW Desai Hospital for treatment. While doctors treated the child promptly, the family was reportedly asked to visit another trauma hospital to obtain a medico-legal certificate.
The incident raised concerns about the practice of referring patients elsewhere solely for documentation.
Doctors Say Circular Alone May Not Solve the Problem
However, some doctors believe that issuing a circular alone may not fully resolve the problem. A medical superintendent from a suburban hospital noted that casualty wards require multiple general specialties to manage trauma cases effectively.
“Many smaller hospitals either do not have specialists or have them only occasionally,” the doctor said. “Unless casualty departments operate 24×7 with well-staffed trauma teams, patients may continue to be referred elsewhere.”
Rules for Patient Transfers Reiterated
The circular also reiterates that if a patient needs to be shifted to another hospital, the initial hospital must first register the patient as an indoor case and arrange an ambulance for transfer.
However, another doctor pointed out that in reality, patients are sometimes asked to sign Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) forms because tertiary hospitals may hesitate to accept referred cases.
“If patients make their own arrangements and reach the hospital independently, the hospital usually has no choice but to accept them,” the doctor added.
The civic body hopes that strict compliance with the circular will improve emergency care procedures and ensure that medico-legal documentation is handled efficiently across Mumbai hospitals.
