Patient's leg used as pillow case: NHRC notices to UP Govt, Health Ministry

New Delhi: The NHRC has sent notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the Union Health Ministry over an incident in which a man's leg severed in a bus accident was allegedly used as a headrest to prop him up in a state-run hospital in Jhansi.

"It is hard to understand ... how a reasonable person could do such an unfair

act," the National Human Rights Commission said on Monday.

The NHRC stressed the need for a fair investigation and action against the guilty.

"The incident demands not only fair investigation and action against the guilty public servants but also issuance of necessary directions and guidelines to all hospitals regarding strict compliance of standard norms for the disposal of

bio-medical waste and amputated organs so that such incidents do not recur in future," it said.

The incident occurred at the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to suspend four staff and order a departmental probe into it.

The Commission has

issued the notices to the chief secretary, seeking a detailed report.

"Also, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been asked to submit a report, as to whether any instructions or guidelines on the subject have been issued to the doctors and hospitals, along with status of mechanism to monitor their implementation, across the country," the NHRC said in a statement.

Ghanshyam (28) claimed that the hospital staff put the severed leg under his head as a pillow. He had lost the leg in an accident on Saturday and was brought to the hospital in a critical condition.