Odisha Shocker: Kin Carry Dead Patient’s Body To Collector’s Office, Allege Negligence

Baripada: Family members of a pregnant woman, who died on Friday at the Raghunath Murmu Medical College, carried her body all the way to the District Collector’s office alleging gross medical negligence.

The sight of the body, wrapped in polythene, being carried on shoulder through the main thoroughfare of the town, left the people shell-shocked. Even before the district administration could react, the images had gained wide traction in media.

Media reports quoting family members claimed doctors at the medical college ignored the pleas to save her life as her condition was deteriorating fast. They claimed that the foetus was already dead and that the doctors could have saved the mother’s life if they had performed the surgery on her. She was admitted on Thursday morning.

Reports also claimed that no ambulance was provided to transport the body to her native place.

Stung by the alleged negligence, family members decided to carry the body on their shoulders to the Collector’s office, only to find the doors closed due to Raja festival. Till the last report came in, they were camping in front of the closed gates. The police also reportedly misbehaved with them.

The incident came on a day when doctors across the country were protesting against attacks on a junior doctor in Kolkata’s NRS Hospital.

Some news outlets said local MLA Prakash Soren has reached out to the family with the assurance of help along with the Chief District Medical Officer.