Date:25/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/25/stories/2008112557650100.htm

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Bodies mixed up at government hospital

Special Correspondent

— PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN

EXPLAINING THE SITUATION: Police pacifying relatives of an accident victim at the Government General Hospital.

CHENNAI: The bodies of two patients who died on Sunday at the Government General Hospital here were mixed up on Monday, leading to relatives of one of the deceased staging a protest at the hospital.

A mortuary attendant has been suspended and an inquiry ordered.

According to police, K. Krishnamurthi (47) from Vellore was injured after he fell from his two-wheeler on Thursday night and was admitted to a private hospital in Vellore. He was shifted to the GH on Friday where he died on Sunday evening. His body was sent to the mortuary for post-mortem, a norm in medico-legal cases.

Krishnamurthi, a resident of Nemandapuram, was an AIADMK functionary.

Another patient, Tapaspal from West Bengal, who was referred from Sri Ramachandra Hospital, was admitted to the GH on Saturday for treatment of renal failure. Police said he died on Sunday around 6.45 a.m. and his body was handed over to the mortuary staff without verifying the identification marks or tag particulars.

On Monday, Tapaspal’s relatives arrived around 8 a.m. and took possession of the body they were given by mortuary attendants and performed the last rites at the Krishnampet crematorium.

Around 9 a.m. the Pallikondan police arrived to facilitate the post-mortem of Krishnamurthi’s body. His relatives were asked to identify the body. When they could not find the body they alerted the attendant.

According to V. Dasarathan (47), one of the relatives, there was no evidence that Krishnamurthi’s body was disposed of. “He has three sons who have to perform the last rites. There is a life insurance policy taken in his name. Though the hospital may certify that he died while undergoing treatment, we want to know where the body is,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Flower Bazaar), Prem Anand Sinha, said the affected party gave a petition, which he forwarded to the hospital Superintendent.