'Foetuses were for hospital museum'

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, SEPT. 20. The authorities of Bowring and Lady Curzon hospital here have denied before the Minister of State for Higher Education and Medical Education, Dr. G. Parameshwar, that the two foetuses found in the hospital during a surprise visit by the Lokayukta were intended for sale.

According to them, the foetuses were kept under refrigeration and not in the mortuary, preparatory to processing for storage in the hospital museum, Dr. Parameshwar told presspersons here on Thursday.

He said soon after he had come to know about the observations of the Lokayukta, he spoke to the department secretary, director, and the Superintendent and staff of the hospital, who denied that the foetuses were intended for sale. According to them, in cases of abortion or death of a pregnant woman during an operation, the foetuses were ``processed'' for storage in the museum, he added.

Dr. Parameshwar said that if he came to know of sale of foetuses in any hospital under his department, he would immediately order an inquiry, and place the functionaries concerned under suspension, whatever their status, Dr. Parameshwar said.

Referring to a finding of the Lokayukta of the decomposed body of a Defence personnel in the mortuary, he said the staff had told him that the body could not be handed over to the relatives before police inquest was held.

When his attention was drawn to 34 persons working in place of regular officials in the hospital, Dr. Parameshwar said action would be taken after getting a report. There was ban on recruitment of `D' group staff for some time, and appointment of temporary staff for manual work was permitted only with the permission of the Government, he added.

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