3 outsourced staff detained over patient's death at Cuttack Hospital

Cuttack: Three outsourced staff members of the Mental Health Institute at SCB Medical College and Hospital were detained by police, a day after a patient undergoing treatment at the facility allegedly died following an assault.

According to the patient’s family, he was allegedly beaten by security personnel and attendants after he attempted to escape from the facility on Tuesday night. The allegations have prompted a police investigation into whether the assault was linked to his subsequent death.

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Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a 33-year-old psychiatric patient died under mysterious circumstances at SCB Medical College and Hospital, with his family alleging that he was assaulted by security personnel and attendants at the facility. The deceased, a resident of Jajpur Road, had been admitted to the SCB Mental Health Institute on September 28. He was found dead around 4 am on Wednesday, two days after his admission. The family’s allegations emerged following the postmortem examination, which reportedly found multiple bruises on his body. His relatives alleged that he had been beaten to death inside the hospital.

Speaking to TNIE, police sources said those detained include two security personnel and an attendant. They are being questioned in connection with the case. “The CCTV footage has been obtained and is being examined, while postmortem and histopathology reports of the deceased are awaited to ascertain the exact cause of death,” said a senior police officer, adding that necessary action will be taken after that.

The incident has also triggered a political response. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) expressed serious concern over the death and demanded that the state Health and Family Welfare Minister issue a clarification regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The case has raised concerns over the safety and treatment of patients at the mental health facility. The police investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the patient’s death and determine the role, if any, of those detained.

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