Uproar at GMC Purnia after patient allegedly mistaken for dead
Patient Declared Dead Sparks Family Protest
Purnia: A tense and chaotic scene unfolded at the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in Purnia on Saturday, after family members of a road accident victim alleged that their relative was mistakenly declared dead and sent for a postmortem while still alive.
The incident occurred following a head-on collision between two speeding motorcycles near a petrol pump in Purnia on Saturday afternoon, which left three men severely injured. Local police transported all three victims to GMCH, where two were declared “brought dead”, while the third succumbed to his injuries during treatment, hospital authorities said.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn when, during the postmortem process, one of the deceased allegedly showed signs of posthumous bleeding, which a relative misinterpreted as a sign of life. The family immediately removed the body from the postmortem room and rushed it back to the emergency ward, demanding renewed medical attention.
In a state of panic and disbelief, the family forcefully took the patient’s body back to the emergency ward, demanding that doctors resume treatment. Once again, the patient was medically assessed and officially declared dead, hospital sources said.
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A video from the hospital has since been widely shared on social media platforms, including the X account of the RJD. Sharing the video, the Opposition party wrote, “At GMCH, Purnia, a living patient was declared dead and sent for postmortem! In the incompetent and corrupt BJP-Nitish government, Bihar’s ‘inauspicious’ healthcare system is causing immense suffering to the common people every day!” reports TNIE.
Speaking to TNIE, hospital authorities, however, claimed that all clinical protocols, from trauma management to postmortem procedures, were followed. A GMCH official said, “Three patients from a road traffic accident were brought in by police. Two were already brought dead, and despite all possible efforts, the third also succumbed. The deaths were confirmed by repeated medical checks, including an ECG showing a flat line. In the postmortem room, relatives, however, mistook signs of posthumous bleeding for life and confronted our team.”
As the situation worsened, additional police personnel from multiple stations were deployed to the hospital. Following extended discussions and explanations, the crowd gradually dispersed.
