In a case of medical negligence, a hospital in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district mistakenly declared an elderly COVID-19 patient dead and handed over the body of another patient to his relatives for cremation.
Shibdas Banerjee, 75, was admitted in Balrampur Basu Hospital on November 4 for treatment after he tested positive for Coronavirus. On November 13, the hospital informed his relatives that he succumbed to the infection and handed over a body, which was then cremated. A week later, while Banerjee’s ‘shraddha’ ceremony preparations were underway at his house, the hospital called up his family and informed that he is alive and has recovered from COVID-19, and the body that was given to them was of another patient. Following this, the family members went to the hospital and brought Banerjee back home.
Identity mix-up
Officials said Banerjee’s family was handed over the body of another patient named Mohinimohan Mukherjee (75) due to identity mix-up. Mukherjee was also admitted to the hospital on November 4 for COVID-19 treatment but was later shifted to a facility in Barasat. By mistake, the hospital sent medical reports of Banerjee to the Barasat COVID-19 facility, according to a report by The Indian Express.
After Mukherjee’s death, the hospital authorities, due to identity mix-up, handed over the body to Banerjee’s family after wrapping it in protective covering as per COVID-19 protocol. Therefore, Banerjee’s family failed to realise that the body was not his and cremated it.
Goof-up surfaces
The next week, Balrampur Basu Hospital officials called up Mukherjee’s family and informed that he has recovered from the infection. When Mukherjee’s family members reached the hospital, they found a different person and raised an alarm. Consequently, the goof-up by the hospital came to fore and Banerjee’s family was informed that he is alive. Following this, he was taken back home by his family.
