Odisha doctor performs last rites of destitute patient; 'painful to see patients die'

At a time when own family members desert elderly ones, a doctor in Odisha has set an example by performing last rites of a destitute patient after completing necessary police formalities.

Dr, Shankar Ramchandani, Assistant Professor at VIMSAR Burla was treating the elderly patient, identified as Bedi Sahu for the last one year. For the doctor, Bedi Sahu was just like her mother.

Along with Ramchandani, other nurses and post graduate students were looking after Bedi Sahu who was suffering from paralysis.

Though she was responding to the treatment, she died after facing breathing issues. As Bedi was abandoned by her relatives at the hospital, Dr Ramchandani came forward and conducted her last rites as a son.

“The patient was recovering. But somehow her health deteriorated and she could not survive. As I treated her as my mother, I conducted the last rites as a son,” said Dr Ramchandani.

It is not for the first time that Ramchandani has conducted the funeral of a destitute patient. Earlier also he had performed the death rituals as per Hindu tradition for another patient who died at the hospital.

“It is really painful as a doctor to see a patient die. I urge everyone not to abandon elderly persons as they just need our love and care,” said Ramchandani.

(Reported by Sanjay Jena)