Since the onset of coronavirus pandemic, a lapse in Indian medical infrastructure and hospitals has revealed the ugly truth of humanity. In one such case has come from Jalandhar’s Sriman hospital located on the Pathankot National Highway. Not only did the hospital staff have swapped the bodies of two COVID-19 patients but the family of one of the deceased also performed the last rites of the dead body.
After relatives of the other deceased insisted on seeing the face they realised that they were given the dead body of someone else.
The hospital staff revealed that there has been a mistake and two dead bodies have been swapped. There was a lot of uproar in the hospital regarding this matter and police were called to look into the situation.
One of the deceased was a resident of Phagwara and the other was from Buta Pind. Tarsem Singh of Buta Pind and Jaspal Singh of Phagwara died of COVID-19. Sriman Hospital director Dr VP Sharma said that a distant relative had come to take the body of Jaspal Singh, a resident of Phagwara and after identification, the body was handed to the relative. The body was taken to the crematorium in the hospital ambulance. No relatives were present at the funeral.
Tarsem Singh’s body was not identified and was cremated by mistake.
Dr VP Sharma said that there has been a mistake from the staff and the sentiments of both the families have been hurt in the case. He considers it as the hospital’s fault.
Relatives of both the deceased created ruckus till late in the night and a case have also been filed against the hospital.