Patient allegedly tied to bed over non payment of bills: Hospital's registration suspended, sealed after video goes viral

Madhya Pradesh: The administration of Madhya Pradesh's Shajapur district suspended the registration of a private hospital and sealed it after a shocking incident surfaced recently wherein an elderly patient was allegedly tied to the hospital bed by the staff on account of non-payment of his medical bills. FIR was also filed against the hospital directors by the police.

A video of the incident had recently gone viral on social media showing an 80-year-old patient. To this, the hospital authorities justified stating that it was essential to tie the patient for applying certain medication and moreover his family was also present during the procedure holding his hands.

Dr. Varun Bajaj, the director of the private hospital denied all the allegations and confirmed that the patient was discharged and no extra amount was charged. He informed PTI, "The patient was having intestinal problems and in order to administer the medicine, his legs were tied to the bed while his hands were held by his family during the process." He also affirmed that police were informed after those attending the patient expressed an inability to pay the bill and insisted on taking him home.

During the treatment, the family had paid Rs 6,000, followed by another Rs 5,000. However, at the time of discharge, the hospital asked the kin to pay Rs 11,270 more. The patient's family did not have the required amount, and because of the COVID-19 lockdown, they could not even make any other arrangements, reports ANI

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Later, the Collector of Shajapur district, Dinesh Jain ordered an investigation after taking note of the media reports claiming that the hospital authorities tied the man to a bed as his family had not settled the bill and an investigating committee headed by ADM. The hospital was shut thereafter.

This incident grabbed public attention after former chief minister Kamal Nath tweeted about the incident. Posting a video of the incident, he stated "Amid corona pandemic, some private hospitals are busy looting the patients and there is nobody to listen".