In a startling occurrence in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, medical staff at the government-run Jhunjhunu district hospital incorrectly proclaimed a mentally challenged man, 25, dead. Rohitash Kumar was the man who was admitted to the hospital on Thursday afternoon due to epileptic episodes. The hospital’s doctors mistakenly believed he had passed away after administering CPR and seeing a flatline on the ECG. Although no real post-mortem was performed, a fictitious report was created on paper stating that respiratory failure was the cause of death. Preparations for Kumar’s cremation started when his body was turned over to the shelter home for the last ceremonies.
However, the error was discovered when, some three hours after his death, Kumar appeared to be alive on the funeral pyre shortly before the cremation was scheduled to occur. He was taken back to the BDK Hospital in Jhunjhunu right away, and after that, he was sent to the SMS Hospital in Jaipur in critical condition. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to SMS Hospital before he died at 5:30 am on Friday.
Following the event, the health authorities dismissed three physicians from the BDK Hospital on negligence charges: Principal Medical Officer Dr. Sandeep Pachar, Medical Officer Dr. Yogesh Kumar Jakhar of the Community Health Centre (CHC), and Medical Officer Dr. Navneet Meel. The doctors have been told to record their attendance in Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Jalore, among other regions.
The Jhunjhunu district administration looked into the matter further and discovered that Kumar had been deemed to be mentally challenged and in need of protection earlier in September 2024, at which point he was admitted to the “Maa Sewa Sansthan” shelter home. He was brought to the Jhunjhunu hospital on Thursday following his epileptic seizure, which is where the unfortunate error happened. A fictitious post-mortem report was released, claiming that chronic lung conditions like tuberculosis or COPD were the cause of death.
The post-mortem at SMS Hospital was put on hold after some of Kumar’s family members called the authorities after the incident received public exposure. For the post-mortem, a medical board was established, and the police record (panchnama) will now be finished. An inquiry into the operation of the shelter house where Kumar had been staying was mandated by the district collector.
Serious questions concerning medical malpractice, inappropriate post-mortem care, and the treatment of mentally challenged people have been brought up by this case.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
