Odisha govt suspends two docs over man carrying daughter’s body on shoulders

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Pallahara, Jan 7:

Odisha government today placed two doctors under suspension over a man carrying his dead daughter on shoulders from Pallahara sub divisional hospital to his home for around 15 km.

According to reports, the Health department suspended Pallahara Sub-Divisional Medical Officer (SDMO) Dr Pratap Chandra Mohanty and Senior Medical Officer Dr Prashant Kumar Mohapatra for dereliction of duty.

It may be mentioned here that Gati Dhibar of Pechamundi village in Angul district carried his daughter’s body on his shoulders from the hospital to his village.  After failing to get hearse facility, Gati had to carry the body of his five-year-old daughter to his village, 15 km away from the healthcare facility.

The minor died while undergoing treatment at the hospital on Tuesday.

After the incident reminiscent of the Dana Majhi episode was reported, the District Collector Anil Kumar Samal asked his deputy Tapan Kumar Satpathy to probe into the matter. Based on Sub-Collector’s report, Collector suspended the Junior Hospital Manager, Ritanjali Swain and dismissed security guard Nirakar Nayak from his service on Wednesday.

Notably, the state government had launched paid hearse facility – Mahaprayana scheme – available at District Headquarters Hospital and medical colleges to carry dead from the hospital to their home.