Kin alleges Covid victim’s body handed over maggots, MCH refutes

KOCHI: Kunjumon’s family, aged 86, who died on Tuesday at the Government Medical College Hospital of Ernakulam during treatments of Covid, said that their bodies were found with maggots.

Kunjumon’s body, which resides here in Kombanad, was handed over on Tuesday to hospital authorities and seen with maggos on Wednesday for cremation. He was admitted into the MCH on 5 September due to Covid infection with a severe pneumonia. According to Kunjumon’s son, Anil Kumar, a pure lapse occurred during treatment by hospital authorities.

“Due to Covid, he was initially admitted to Perumbavoor taluk hospital on August 29. Later, he was shifted to Ambalamugal Covid facility. My father had many comorbidities including heart issues. When his condition worsened, he was shifted to Kalamassery MCH. Since we were not able to see him, the hospital authorities called us over the phone regarding the updates and progress in his health condition. All the while the hospital authorities told us that he is on ventilator support and getting good treatment,” said Anil Kumar.

“Later on Tuesday, they let us know that he passed away. It was only on Wednesday when the body was taken for cremation at Malamuri crematorium that the maggots were found. We did not raise an issue then because we were not in such a state of mind. But this should not happen to anyone else at the hospital,” said Anil Kumar. He lodged a complaint with the health minister and the chief minister seeking action against the MCH authorities for the lapses.

However, the MCH authorities refuted the allegations of the family. “From the time of his admission, the patient has been in ICU critical care due to severe infection. To prevent any possible bed sores the patient was being treated on air beds. He passed away at 12.10 am on Tuesday,” said Ganesh Mohan, MCH superintendent, in a statement on Saturday.