Nainital Hospital Records Living Patient as Deceased, Sparking Protests
A 62-year-old woman undergoing treatment at Chandan Hospital in Nainital was allegedly recorded as "deceased" in hospital documents, triggering protests by student activists on Tuesday. The hospital has termed it a clerical error and stated that the staff member responsible has been terminated.
Details of the Incident
Hema Deupa was admitted to the ICU and on ventilator support at Chandan Hospital. On Monday, when her family decided to take her home, the billing department mistakenly entered "death" as the reason for discharge on the file cover during the discharge process, according to a hospital management representative. He clarified that her medical records and discharge summary correctly reflected her condition and called the entry a human error.
The hospital representative said, "Disciplinary action has been taken against the employee concerned and corrective steps are being introduced." He also alleged that the family took the patient's file and shared its video online, which the hospital described as a breach of its property. The representative added that the hospital is cooperating with the police inquiry.
Protests and Police Complaints
Following the incident, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and student union members of MBPG College staged a protest outside the hospital in Haldwani. They sought accountability and action against the management, demanding assurances that such an error does not recur.
SP (City) Manoj Katiyar told TOI, "Police have received complaints from both the students and the hospital after the protest." In their complaint, student leader Abhishek Goswami alleged that a hospital staff member, Raman Sethi, misbehaved with student representatives and used abusive language, and sought action against him.
In a counter-complaint, hospital representative Satyaprakash Dubey alleged that ABVP members "created chaos, vandalised property, and harassed staff", disrupting services and putting patients at risk. He sought security and registration of an FIR against those involved.
Ongoing Investigation
Katiyar said police are examining all aspects of the incident and appropriate action will follow based on the findings. The situation highlights concerns over hospital documentation practices and the response to such errors in the healthcare system.
The incident has raised questions about patient safety and administrative protocols in medical facilities, with both sides awaiting further police action.
