Bowring Hospital denies charge on foetuses

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, SEPT. 20. Specimens of foetuses displayed close to public passages, a worn-out granite table on which autopsies are conducted, and surgical waste kept on a wheel barrow near a ward, were what the Minister of State for Medical Education, Dr. G. Parameshwar, found on his visit to the Government Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital on Thursday afternoon.

The minister's visit was a follow up to Wednesday's visit by the Lokayukta, Mr. Justice N. Venkatachala, when two human foetuses were reportedly found in a sink and a table drawer in the mortuary.

Dr. Parameshwar, who walked straight to the Forensic Department of the hospital, went through the post-mortem section, the adjoining cold storage for bodies, and the incinerator room. The hospital staff, including the Superintendent, Dr. L. Chandramma, and Dr. Bheemappa, who is in charge of the forensic section, were with him.

The hospital staff tried to explain that only ``abnormal'' foetuses were preserved in jars with chemicals, as objects of study. Some were sent on demand to Bangalore Medical College and other colleges. They were never kept in sinks of drawers.

Dr. Chandramma also tried to persuade the minister that foetuses had no inherent value as only full sized bodies could be used by medical students to study anatomy. ``It is not fair to create the impression we are into something like selling organs, and cadaver transplantation is complicated. We don't sell bodies or foetuses,'' she explained.

`Not nuts and bolts': Dr. Parameshwar pointed out that the Lokayukta could not be expected to know all this, and the doctors should have taken pains to explain matters properly. ``Many people think organ transplantation is like changing nuts and bolts,'' was his comment.

Decomposed body: Dr. Parameshwar also wanted an explanation for the Lokayukta report about a decomposed body being kept in the mortuary for days together without an autopsy being conducted. The hospital staff showed records to prove that the body, which had been found by police only on September 18, was brought to the mortuary soon after midnight (12.45 am) on September 19, and that the autopsy was conducted the same day. Dr. Parameshwar was unhappy that alterations were made in the entries about the time, from 10.45 p.m. to 12.45 a.m. but appeared satisfied by their explanation.

The worn-out granite table in the post-mortem room -- which was being hurriedly washed -- also irritated the minister who asked why a stainless steel table with proper drainage was not being used. The next stop was at the mortuary with cold storage facility for storing bodies. Dr. Parameshwar had to press his handkerchief to his nose before getting used to the odour in the room.

The minister appeared satisfied by the two-chambered hospital incinerator which could exceed the 1,050 degrees Celsius norm prescribed for the equipment. He stressed that infectious waste should not be allowed to go outside the hospital to dumps on the City outskirts, and that it should be burnt as directed by the Pollution Control Board.

Dr. Parameshwar was told that no ``unauthorised persons'' were allowed entry into the forensic section but there were employees on contract for cleaning and security. He insisted they should be given ID cards and accounted for.

`Hospital working satisfactorily': The minister later told presspersons that Bowring Hospital was one of the largest in the City with over 550 in-patients at a time, and 1,200 out-patients treated every day besides hundreds of visitors. Considering this, the hospital was functioning satisfactorily, and the Government would think of improving the facilities further. He had already held discussion with the Director of Medical Education and other top officials about the issues raised by the Lokayukta.

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