Release of deceased patient’s body cannot be denied for any reason: Health Ministry

The release of a deceased patient’s body cannot be denied by hospitals for any reason, and state and union territory (UT) governments should take appropriate steps to protect the family of a deceased from instances of exploitation by hospitals under the provisions of The Patients’ Rights Charter, said Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma posed several questions that are as follows:

(a) whether Government is aware of the fact that despite the fact that as per the Charter of Patients’ Rights, patients have a right that even if the hospital bill is not paid by the family of a deceased, the dead bodies cannot be held hostage by the hospital, such incidents are happening despite this right being in place;

(b) if so, the efforts being made by Government to prevent these incidents; and

(c) whether these efforts of Government have led to reduction in such incidents?

Pawar informed the House through a written reply to a question asked on “whether the government is aware of the fact that despite the fact that as per the Charter of Patients’ Rights, patients have a right that even if the hospital bill is not paid by the family of a deceased, the dead bodies cannot be held hostage by the hospital, such incidents are happening despite this right being in place”.

The Patients’ Rights Charter, as approved by National Council for Clinical Establishments, a statutory body, under the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, is available in the public domain on the webportal:www.clinicalestablishments.gov.in WriteReadData/3181.pdf, said Pawar in her reply.

“As per the Guidelines (para x), of the said Charter, “Release of the body of a patient cannot be denied for any reason by the hospitals,” the MoS said while replying to the query of Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma.

She further said that the aforesaid Charter has been shared with all the states and the UTs for adoption and implementation so that the grievances and concerns of patients are addressed while ensuring a smooth and cordial environment in clinical establishments.

The Minister also said that the state and UT governments take appropriate steps to protect the family of a deceased from instances of exploitation by the hospitals.

“The adoption, implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Patients’ Rights Charter is within the remit of the respective state and UT government,” Pawar said, adding “the information in this regard is not maintained centrally.”