NHRC issues notice to UP Govt over patient's death at Kanpur Medical College

New Delhi: Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the death of a patient due to a lack of proper treatment at Kanpur Dehat Medical College, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.

The media report stated that a 25-year-old patient died allegedly due to mismanagement by the hospital and police personnel, as well as a lack of proper treatment at the medical college, as he was left unattended.

It has been alleged that the doctor on duty had referred the unconscious patient to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in Kanpur, but the police escort arrived 6-7 hours late, during which the patient had died. The body reportedly remained in the ward for several hours until it began to decompose, forcing other patients to leave, after which it was shifted to the mortuary.

Also read- 25-year-old patient dies after transfer delay at Kanpur Medical College

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a 25-year-old patient referred from Dehat Medical College to Kanpur’s LLR Hospital passed away after allegedly waiting for hours without proper transfer arrangements. Even after his death, his body remained on a bed in the emergency ward for nearly 11 hours, raising serious concerns over hospital protocols and accountability.

The incident occurred on August 9, when the critically ill patient was brought to the hospital by two individuals who left immediately after admitting him. At that time, he was unconscious.

Reportedly, the doctor on duty referred him to another hospital, but since he had nobody to accompany him, the message was sent to the local police station to provide a guard to go with him. The police escort did not reach the hospital for about 6-7 hours, and the patient died during this period.

According to the media report, published on August 11, police claimed that a guard was sent to the hospital to escort the patient, but he could not be taken to the referral facility due to the non-availability of an ambulance, while hospital authorities reportedly maintained that an ambulance was available.

In a press release, the Commission observed that if the contents of the news report are true, the matter raises serious concerns of human rights violations. It has, therefore, issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, calling for a detailed report within two weeks.

Established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC, an autonomous statutory body, is an embodiment of India's concern for the promotion and protection of human rights. The apex human rights body has the power to take suo motu (on its own motion) action based on media reports, public knowledge or other sources, without receiving a formal complaint of human rights violations.

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