SCB Hospital patient death case: 2 outsourced employees arrested

Cuttack: Following the alleged beating of a mentally challenged patient to death around two weeks ago, Mangalabag police on Sunday arrested two outsourced employees of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in connection with the incident.

The two accused include a ward attendant and a security guard, both of whom were working at the institute on an outsourced basis, reports the Daily.

Also Read:Medical negligence allegations after patient's death trigger tension at Silchar Hospital

Speaking to TNIE, DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said a team of doctors conducted a postmortem of the deceased. “Although the doctors reserved their opinion on the exact cause of the patient’s death, we suspect it may have resulted from assault as there were prominent injury marks on the body. Based on the preliminary postmortem report and CCTV footage, we arrested two outsourced staff and produced them in court,” he said.

The final postmortem report is awaited and is expected to provide further clarity regarding the cause of death.

The deceased was a 40-year-old resident of Jajpur who was undergoing treatment at the Mental Health Institute of SCB Medical College and Hospital. On September 30, he was allegedly beaten by security personnel and attendants after reportedly attempting to escape from the facility.

Following his death, the patient's brother lodged a complaint with the police. Based on the complaint, Mangalabag police registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

Earlier, three outsourced employees of the institute had reportedly been detained by police a day after the patient's death.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that 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.

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