Organ theft allegation in Cuttack: Odisha Health Minister orders probe

Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Friday ordered a probe into the organ theft allegation brought by the family members of a deceased against a private hospital in Cuttack.  

As per reports, a patient identified as Babula Diggal, a resident of Baligua area in Kandhamal district, passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Cuttack after suffering injuries in an accident. Though they had performed the last rites, they realised that the body had some stitch marks when the deceased suffered injuries on his head. Later, they lodged a complaint at the police station.  Subsequently, the police exhumed the body and sent it for autopsy. 

Meanwhile, the hospital authority refuted the allegation regarding organ theft by the family members. 

However, the manager of the hospital Sushant Behera has refuted the allegations.

According to manager of the hospital,Sushant Behera, the decompressive craniectomy of the patient was carried out after counselling with his relatives by the neurosurgeon.

“As part of decompressive craniectomy, part of the skull is removed and kept in the stomach. Following the recovery of the patient, the skull is again removed and fitted at the proper place again,” said Behera. 

However, Behera admitted that the post-mortem of the patient had not been conducted after his death.

Meanwhile, a question mark has been raised if decompressive craniectomy is a treatment method accepted by the law then why there is so much hue and cry over it? If the relatives of the patients were informed about the matter earlier, why did they bring an allegation of organ theft? Why the body of the patient was handed over to the family members without conducting the post-mortem and informing the police?

“If there is swelling in the skull, the skull is kept in the stomach as part of the decompressive craniectomy. But, the mistake was not to inform the police,” said health expert Dr Sami Salim.

Taking the allegation seriously, Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling ordered a probe into the incident.

“The matter has been taken seriously and a probe into the incident has been ordered. I have also talked with the Police Commissioner in this regard. Stern action will be taken against the persons whoever will be found guilty,” said Mahaling.