Declared dead, covid patient returns home after family cremates body

In a case of identity mix-up because of hospital blunder, a 75-year-old Covid-19 patient in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal was declared dead, and his family cremated another man’s body.

Shibdas Banerjee was admitted to Balrampur Basu Hospital in Khardah on November 4, and was declared dead on November 13. The patient's son had cremated the body of 75-year-old Mohinimohan Mukherjee. He was also admitted at the hospital, the same day. On November 7, he was transferred to a Covid hospital in Barasat. However, the Khardah hospital sent the Barasat facility Banerjee’s medical reports, resulting in the mix-up.

When Mukherjee died, Barasat hospital officials informed Banerjee’s family and handed over the body to them. Due to the covid protocols, the family did not realised that they were cremating the body of a stranger. After Banerjee recovered on Friday, the hospital staff called Mukherjee’s family, saying he was ready to be discharged. When they saw a different man, they raised an alarm and the hospital’s blunder came to light.

Banerjee’s family was then informed that he was still alive. The family arrived at the hospital and took him home.

An inquiry committee has been set up to investigate the matter.