Hospital refuses to hand over body, asks family members to clear bill first

Mandya: A girl who had attempted suicide by consuming poison on May 26 and admitted to Sanjo Hospital in Mandya, breathed her last yesterday as she failed to respond to treatment.

The deceased girl has been identified as Bhavya (19), daughter of Manchegowda and a resident of Lakshmegowdanadoddi in Maddur taluk. Bhavya was pursuing her para-medical course at MIMS in Mandya.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the hospital yesterday after the hospital administration refused to hand over the girl’s body until the family members cleared the hospital bill, which resulted in villagers barging into the hospital and demanding the body.

The girl’s parents and the villagers alleged that the hospital administration was keen on getting their money and were unnecessarily delaying in sending the body for post-mortem. They then staged a protest at the hospital.

They alleged that Bhavya had died on May 30 evening and the hospital administration had kept the body without informing about the death, to make money.

Meanwhile, wordy duel ensued between the villagers and the hospital staff resulting in the villagers and the hospital staff heckling each other.

Meanwhile, K.M. Doddi Police, who rushed to the hospital on learning about the commotion there, tried to pacify the crowd but in vain. Later, Mandya Dy.SP Gangadhar along with tight Police security shifted the body of Bhavya to MIMS Hospital for post-mortem.

K.M. Doddi Police, who have registered a case in this regard are investigating.