Patient’s kin wait to perform last rites

Belagavi: The last rites of the body of an elderly Covid-19 patient is yet to be done, even as his family waited for hours to catch its last glimpse at the BIMS on Saturday.
The patient had died on Friday, hours after falling from the bed, and withering in pain with no one to attend to him. A video of the incident went viral on social media platforms, triggering outrage and raising several questions on the handling of patients at the hospital. The development also prompted DC M G Hiremath to initiate a probe into the incident. However with the last rites still pending, the alleged apathy on the part of the authorities continues to haunt the bereaved family.
The family members, who arrived in a private vehicle from Athani at 4pm on Saturday, are now requesting the authorities to allow them to see the body for one last time. The grandson of the deceased told STOI: “We came in a vehicle by paying Rs 3,500 to carry the body back. But now we are told that the bodies of Covid positive patients will not be handed over to relatives.”
He further said that he wants authorities to give them the Covid test report. “We have been waiting at the mortuary since evening. We will wait until we get to see the face of our grandfather,” he said.
The grandson also said it is the moral responsibility of the authorities to provide them the details of treatment. “I need every detail about the nature of treatment and medication given to my grandfather. I will leave the hospital only after getting it.”
The district health officer said there may be delay due to procedures that need to be followed before the last rites are done. “The family members can take part in the last rites, which are performed as per their rituals. But the authorities will handle the entire process as the patient has died due to Covid,” the DHO added.
DC Hiremath said an inquiry committee from BIMS has been asked to probe the incident and submit a report on Monday.