A case of negligence has surfaced at Kanpur Dehat Medical College in Uttar Pradesh, where a 25-year-old patient died after he was left unattended and was not provided proper treatment as his body remained on a hospital bed for nearly 11 hours.
According to hospital sources, the man, identified as Sundar, was brought to the college’s emergency ward around 1:15 pm on Saturday by unidentified persons.
He was unconscious and unable to speak. Doctors admitted him and noted that he was vomiting continuously. His condition was critical, and he was referred to Kanpur’s Hallet Hospital for further treatment.
However, with no person present to attend to him, hospital staff informed the local police station and requested a security guard to escort the patient.
Officials claim no guard arrived, leaving the patient unattended. As hours passed without transfer or adequate care, Sundar’s condition worsened, and he died around 11 pm.
Eyewitnesses allege that after his death, hospital staff simply left the body in the ward. Overnight, the foul smell of the decomposing body forced other patients to leave the room. The situation came to light on Sunday morning when attendants of other patients raised an alarm.
District Magistrate Kanpur Dehat, upon learning of the incident, visited the facility, expressed displeasure over the lapse, and ordered an inquiry. He directed the hospital to remove the body immediately. Around 9 am, the body was finally shifted to the mortuary by an outsourced sweeper.
While the police claim they sent a guard but no ambulance was available at the hospital, medical staff insist that the absence of security support prevented them from shifting the patient.
The principal of the medical college, Sajjan Lal Verma, has confirmed an internal investigation. Chief Medical Superintendent AK Singh inspected the ward following the District Magistrate’s orders.
The incident has sparked outrage over the apparent indifference of hospital staff and the systemic failures in handling unattended patients.
Questions are being raised about the lack of coordination between the hospital administration and police, and how such negligence could occur in a government-run medical facility meant to provide emergency care.
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