Patna: State’s “high-tech” sadar hospital in Begusarai has come under scrutiny after the body of a 58-year-old woman allegedly remained in the rain for hours while her family ran between police stations and the hospital to complete post-mortem formalities.Sushila Devi, a resident of Ward No. 10 under Balia police station, was injured in a road accident on July 13. She was treated at sadar hospital and discharged on Aug 4 evening, but died at home the same night.Her family informed Balia police, who advised them to get a post-mortem. However, when they brought the body to sadar hospital, hospital staff allegedly refused to conduct the autopsy without a police report.The family claimed they were first sent to Balia police station and then to Town police station, where officials said they had no records related to the case. Meanwhile, the body remained outside the hospital under a plastic sheet in heavy rain.The family spent the entire day shuttling between the hospital and the two police stations. They alleged the required documents were issued only after they protested and threatened to approach the district magistrate and other senior officials. The post-mortem was finally conducted around 15 hours later.Deputy superintendent of Sadar Hospital Dr Akhilesh Kumar denied any negligence by hospital staff.“As per rules, a post-mortem can be conducted only after receiving the police report. There was a delay in issuing the accidental death report from the police. As soon as we received it, the post-mortem was conducted,” he said.
