Patient?s attendants forced to take amputated leg

ATTENDANTS OF a patient of diabetic foot had a harrowing experience at KGMU?s Trauma Centre today when the doctors forcibly handed over to them the amputated leg of the patient to dispose it of.

ATTENDANTS OF a patient of diabetic foot had a harrowing experience at KGMU’s Trauma Centre today when the doctors forcibly handed over to them the amputated leg of the patient to dispose it of. Moreover, the staff there demanded money before handing over the leg, though the family was hesitant to take the amputated limb. Devi Sahai (75), a resident of Kanpur Dehat, was brought to Balrampur hospital on May 5 in a serious condition. The doctors there referred him to the Trauma Centre where he was admitted under the doctors of the department of general surgery in ward number 3 (surgical) on bed number 56.Sahai was operated upon on Thursday and his leg was amputated as the doctors considered it necessary to save his life.

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However, the family was shocked when the amputated leg was handed over to them after the operation. This was against ethics as amputated body parts (bio-medical waste) are disposed of by the hospital itself.

When contacted, Dr MSD Jaiswal said at times family members asked for body parts and they were handed over to them after completing the formalities.

But in this case, the family was handed over the body part even though they refused to take it. “The doctors pressurised us to take away the body part. Also the staff here demanded money from us,” alleged Santosh, the son of Devi Sahai.