Ujjain hospital accused of denying dignity to dead patient:Family says body kept in ambulance for 3 hours; CMHO orders probe into conduct

A hospital on the Ujjain–Indore Road is facing serious allegations of inhuman behaviour after a patient’s body was reportedly kept in an ambulance for nearly three hours. The family claims the hospital refused to allow the body to remain inside until relatives arrived. After a video of the incident went viral, the CMHO ordered an inquiry and issued a notice to the hospital. Allegation against Pamecha hospital A complaint has been made against the management of Pamecha Hospital.Local councillor Jitendra ‘Gabbar’ Kuwal alleged that the hospital did not allow a dead body to be kept inside the premises.He said the body was left in an ambulance for about three hours, and the family was treated with “inhuman” behaviour. A video of the incident surfaced online.After this, the CMHO ordered an investigation on Monday. Patient’s death and hospital’s response According to the councillor, Ritesh Bhola (41) from Agar Malwa was admitted to the hospital with chest pain.He died on Friday. The doctor then asked the family to take the body out immediately.Ritesh’s wife, Sheetal Bhola, who was with her two young children, requested the hospital to keep the body for a few hours.Her relatives were travelling from Gwalior.Despite this, the hospital asked them to remove the body. Body kept in ambulance Councillor Kuwal said the body remained in the ambulance outside the hospital for around three hours.He reached the spot after receiving information and asked the hospital to keep the body inside for some time.The hospital refused. After the family members arrived from Gwalior, the woman took the body at around 10 pm. Daughter’s statement The deceased’s daughter, Pari Bhola, said her father had chest pain since the morning.The Agar hospital advised them to take him to Pamecha Hospital in Ujjain. She said her father even drove himself to the hospital.He was admitted for about two hours before the family was informed of his death. Pari alleged the hospital kept pressuring them to remove the body.Around 9 pm, the hospital staff made the entire family leave the premises and placed the body outside.The family had arranged an ambulance, and the body had to remain in it for nearly three hours. Video evidence A video has also surfaced showing councillor Kuwal speaking to the hospital management about the issue. CMHO terms incident ‘inhuman’ In response, CMHO Dr Ashok Patel issued a notice to the director of Pamecha Super Speciality Hospital.The notice states that keeping the body outside the hospital was “improper, inhuman and insensitive”.It also says the act violates the medical code of conduct. The CMHO added that government guidelines require that every dead body be treated with dignity.The hospital has been asked to submit a clarification within two days.If they fail to do so, action will be taken based on the facts available.