Pune Hospital Mortuary Staff Face Legal Action for Body Swapping Incident
In a shocking case that has raised serious concerns about mortuary protocols, the Koregaon Park police in Pune have registered a formal case against the administrator and other staff members of a private hospital's mortuary located on Bund Garden Road. The charges stem from allegations of violating the dignity of the dead, following a distressing incident where a grieving family was handed the wrong body for cremation.
Police Confirm Investigation Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Senior inspector Vijayraj Doke of the Koregaon Park police station provided confirmation of the case registration, stating, "We have registered the case and further probe is on." The legal action has been initiated under sections 301 and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), highlighting the gravity of the alleged negligence in handling human remains.
Complaint Lodged by Relative of Deceased Woman
The complaint was filed by Yash Bhagat, a 27-year-old resident of Baramati, who is a relative of a 57-year-old woman who passed away. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the elderly woman had been admitted to the private hospital for medical treatment and tragically died on January 19. After her demise, her family made the decision to shift her body to the hospital's mortuary for temporary storage.
Disturbing Sequence of Events Unfolds
Later that same night, the family arrived at the mortuary to claim the body of their deceased relative. In a grave error, the mortuary staff handed over another body to the grieving kin without verifying the tag number attached to the remains. Unaware of the mix-up, the family proceeded to take the body for cremation, only to discover at the cremation site that they had been given someone else's mortal remains.
In a state of shock and distress, the family returned to the hospital with the stranger's corpse and demanded the body of their own relative. It was at this point that the hospital staff realized the bodies had been switched. A police officer involved in the case recounted, "The mortuary staffers then called up a few officials, after which the body of the said family's deceased relative was handed over to her kin."
Broader Implications for Mortuary Management
This incident underscores critical lapses in mortuary management and has sparked discussions about the need for stricter adherence to protocols in handling deceased individuals. The case serves as a stark reminder of the emotional trauma that such negligence can inflict on bereaved families, calling for enhanced accountability and training in healthcare facilities across Pune and beyond.
