MARGAO
Family members of a patient admitted at the South Goa district hospital had to undergo trauma on Friday after the patient was declared dead in the morning before realization dawned on the staff in the evening that the patient is alive and undergoing treatment.
The major goof-up came to light on Friday evening when the patient’s son had come to take the mortal remains after making the necessary arrangements at the Margao crematorium, only to find that the body shown was not that of his father.
District hospital medico-legal surgeon, Dr Madhu Ghudkirekar, who was informed that the patient’s body was missing, ordered an inquiry, only to find the patient on his bed in the male ward of the district hospital.
Dr Madhu is believed to have compiled a report on the episode and is expected to forward it to the district hospital authorities. Where exactly the goof-up occurred is being inquired, sources said, throwing up a question whether it was on account of the exchange of documents or otherwise.
The episode started in the morning hours when the relatives of the patient received a message from the hospital stating that he is no more. The patient was admitted to the hospital on Thursday evening after he had complained of chest pain and had undergone a Covid test at Hospicio.
No sooner the relatives received the message of the sad news, they approached the Mathagramasth Hindu Sabha-owned crematorium for the last rites.
It was around 5 pm when the arrangements for cremation were being put in place, the patient’s son went to the district hospital mortuary to collect the body, only to find that the body was not that of his father.
The son immediately informed his uncle, a government servant, who rushed to the hospital to find out how the body has gone missing. Initially, the authorities thought that the body might have been exchanged, but Dr Madhu sent his men to the hospital ward, only to find the patient on his bed.
