Cuttack: The revenue divisional commissioner (central) has sought a report from the head of the mental health institute (MHI) at SCB Medical College and Hospital here over an incident in which patients had to spent nearly 21 hours with an unclaimed body.
Taking note of death of a destitute patient, Tabita (30), RDC Akhil Bihari Ota has directed the head of the MHI to probe incident immediately and submit a report.
Sources said Tabita, who hailed from Lucknow, was undergoing treatment at the MHI for the last two years and died at 7pm January 9.
A doctor of the gynaecology department of SCB had rescued the woman from High Court Square two years back and got her admitted to the MHI. Apart from mental illness, she was also suffering from tuberculosis and other diseases.
After undergoing treatment at the women ward of the MHI for some days, she recovered partially and was sent to a rehabilitation centre in Bhubaneswar. However, she was taken ill at the rehabilitation centre and brought to the hospital.
Tabita’s health deteriorated in last couple of months and she died January 9. However, her body was left to lie at the ward for about 21 hours as the hospital workers did not take steps for its disposal. The inmates of the MHI were made to spend hours with the body due to utter negligence of the hospital authorities.
MHI in-charge Nilamadhav Rath confirmed that RDC has sought a report from him in this regard. “We had extended all possible treatment to the patient and cremated her body as per law.”
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