The unexplained disappearance of a deceased patient’s eye at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) in Patna has sparked alarm over potential medical malpractice or foul play. The incident concerns **Funtush Kumar**, a 24-year-old resident of Nalanda district who was shot and admitted to NMCH on **November 14**. Unfortunately, he died on **November 15**, the day after. Three days later, though, his left eyeball is still missing from his body for no apparent reason.
When Funtush’s family learnt that his left eye was missing on the morning of **November 18**, the situation became apparent. They said that on the evening of **November 15**, when he was in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the eye had been purposefully removed at some point between **1:30 am and 5 am**. The hospital management promptly formed a four-member medical committee to look into the matter after the family expressed their alarm. According to the most recent information, the inquiry has not advanced much, despite the committee’s deadline of one day to present its findings.
Two nurses who were on duty on the night of November 15, when the eye was found to be missing, were suspended by the hospital in reaction to the event. The medical superintendent of NMCH, **Dr. Binod Kumar Singh**, attested that the committee was still carrying out investigations, including interviewing the physicians and staff who were in the intensive care unit during the crucial hours. Dr. Singh stated that no decisions had been made by the committee as of yet. He proposed two theories: either someone purposefully removed the eye, or a rodent caused the damage, but the latter appears improbable in the light of the situation.
The investigation is also being conducted by the local police, who are overseen by **Rajiv Kumar**, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Alamganj police station. Despite reviewing the hospital’s CCTV footage, police have not yet discovered any hard proof. The medical report, which could provide vital details about the body’s condition and provide light on the eye’s unexplained disappearance, is still pending by the police.
Further suspicions have been raised by the deceased’s family, who claim that on the morning of November 15, a knife-like object was discovered close to Funtush’s body. Hospital officials, however, have denied this allegation, stating that the knife was a component of the surgical instruments utilised in the ward. Although the issue is still being investigated, it has raised concerns and raised questions regarding NMCH’s security and patient care practices.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
