Jadcherla Mortuary Incident: Doctors should not be punished for administrative failures, says doctors' body

In a statement, the HRDA emphasised that the responsibility for running and maintaining a mortuary round the clock does not fall under the duties of doctors. The association clarified that the doctors are only responsible for carrying out postmortem examinations in accordance with established medical and legal protocols.

“Doctors should not be made victims of administrative negligence and infrastructural deficiencies. Strengthening the healthcare system, rather than punishing frontline doctors, is the need of the hour,” the association stated.

Previously, Medical Dialogues reported that a deceased man’s body was allegedly mauled by stray dogs inside the mortuary of the Government General Hospital in Jadcherla, Telangana, triggering outrage and prompting swift administrative action. Following the incident, the hospital's Superintendent, the Resident Medical Officer (RMO), a duty medical officer, and the Mortuary Nursing Officer (MNO) were suspended. Instead of being preserved with dignity, the body was reportedly placed on the floor of the mortuary. The facility did not have functioning freezer units. During this lapse, stray dogs entered the mortuary and mauled the corpse before staff returned.

HRDA demanded immediate revocation of the suspension orders issued against the doctors in the Jadcherla incident and a fair and transparent inquiry to identify the actual administrative and infrastructural lapses. The association also called for an urgent strengthening of mortuary infrastructure across government hospitals, including proper buildings, modern freezer units, and adequate support staff. Most importantly, it demanded clear accountability within the administrative system, instead of placing the burden of systemic failures on doctors.

In a press release, signed by Association president N Karthik, the association stated, “The maintenance and security of mortuary facilities are the responsibility of designated mortuary staff such as Health supervisors and other supporting staff, and will be under the supervision of the concerned superintendent's office. Holding doctors accountable for lapses related to mortuary infrastructure, maintenance, or security is both unfair and unjustified.”

The doctors’ body also pointed out that there have been reports indicating that the existing mortuary is located in an old hospital building that is in a dilapidated condition, making it vulnerable to the entry of animals such as dogs and rodents. Such circumstances clearly point towards serious infrastructure and administrative failures, rather than negligence on the part of doctors.

Moreover, the association stated that the new mortuary building constructed in the new hospital premises has not yet been made operational, reportedly because the premises are being used by contractors carrying out works related to the Trauma Care Centre. These administrative and infrastructural shortcomings must be addressed urgently.

“Doctors working in government hospitals are already functioning under extreme resource constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and heavy workloads, while striving to provide the best possible care to patients. Suspending doctors without addressing the systemic failures that led to such incidents only creates a culture of scapegoating and demoralizes the medical community,” the association stated.