Shruti Suman
In a startling incident, the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida found itself entangled in controversy as the body of a 70-year-old patient languished in their mortuary for a staggering 17 days. This baffling negligence has prompted Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak to launch a formal investigation into the matter.
The patient, who had been admitted to GIMS on July 22 following a debilitating brain stroke, regrettably succumbed to their condition on September 23. Subsequently, the body was transferred to the mortuary. Remarkably, the individual responsible for bringing the patient to the hospital remained completely unreachable throughout the course of the treatment, according to GIMS.
However, earlier this week, the shocking revelation came to light that the body had been left unattended in the mortuary for a whopping 17 days. The state government swiftly took notice of this grave lapse, prompting Pathak, who also serves as the health minister, to initiate a comprehensive investigation on Thursday.
“In a grave lapse, the hospital authorities forgot about a body they had stored in a freezer for 17 days at the Government Institute of Medical Sciences in Greater Noida. Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak has taken cognizance of this highly sensitive incident and has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
The principal secretary of the Medical Education Department has been directed to seek a detailed explanation from the director of GIMS,” as per a statement released by the state government.
The statement further revealed, “The institute’s staff negligently left the body in the freezer for 17 days, completely overlooking it. Deputy CM Pathak has ensured a comprehensive probe into the entire incident and promised stringent actions against those found responsible.”
GIMS also acknowledged that despite making numerous attempts, they were unable to establish contact with the person who brought the patient to the hospital. In the end, they had to report the situation to the local Kasna police station.
“It is important to note that the hospital provided free-of-cost treatment to the patient for over two months, with multiple departments cooperating to ensure the best care,” the hospital underlined.
The hospital concluded that “Currently, there are 3 destitute patients admitted to our facility, entrusted to our care by the police or their attendants. Managing the day-to-day needs and disposition of all the patients is an exceptionally challenging task.”
