Chandigarh, July 30 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has said that the conventional understanding of 'emergency,' which constitutes likelihood of imminent death or acute medical crisis, is inherently able-bodied centric in medical reimbursement cases.

"For individuals living with disabilities caused by progressive degenerative chronic diseases such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), the scope of 'emergency' ought to be wider, as their concerns also validly include rapid and irreversible loss of bodily functions resulting in an inability to perform everyday tasks," the bench of justice HS Brar said, while directing the Haryana government to reimburse Rs.3.95 lakh to a clerk, who underwent a treatment in Plexus Neuro and Stem Cell...