An unusual and serious incident occurred at the Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) Hospital in Kanpur, where a patient was mistakenly declared dead by hospital staff and arrangements were made to send the body for post-mortem examination.
The error was discovered after the police arrived to check the body and finish the procedures. Authorities have suspended three hospital employees and initiated an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the misclassification.
According to reports, an unidentified patient, aged around 60 was admitted with severe health issues and declared dead by hospital staff at the inpatient area in ward number 12. But the doctor certified a patient on the adjacent bed to be dead. Based on this certification of death, preparations were made to send the body to a civil mortuary for post-mortem examination, a standard procedure in cases where the cause of death is under review.
However, before the post-mortem could be conducted, the patient was found to be alive. Hospital employees discovered this mix-up after the police arrived.
Following the incident, the Kanpur administration suspended three hospital staff members alleged to be involved in certifying the patient’s death incorrectly. The suspended employees include personnel present during the shift when the erroneous death declaration occurred.
A hospital official confirmed to authorities that an internal inquiry has been launched to determine how the error transpired, why it was not detected earlier, and what procedural lapses may have contributed. The inquiry aims to ensure accountability and revise protocols to prevent similar events in future clinical practice.
In clinical settings, death certification is a formal medical process that involves verifying irreversible cessation of vital functions, including unresponsiveness, absence of respiration, and lack of pulse. In many jurisdictions, it also requires confirmation by a qualified medical practitioner before paperwork and any post-mortem arrangements are made.
Such certification is critical not only for legal documentation but also for the dignity of the individual and clarity for families. Misclassification of vital status carries ethical, legal, and clinical implications and may lead to subsequent investigations by health authorities.
Accurate determination ensures patient dignity, proper legal documentation, and appropriate next steps, including notifying families and, if indicated, conducting medicolegal post-mortem examinations.
(Rh/TL)