Jehangir Hospital withholds body over unpaid bills, sparks outrage

Pune: A hunger strike has erupted outside Jehangir Hospital in Pune after the hospital allegedly refused to release the body of a deceased woman until her family paid outstanding medical bills. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious concerns about the ethics of hospital practices.

The 35-year-old woman passed away on December 8, 2024, at around 9:00 AM, after undergoing an extensive and expensive course of treatment at the hospital including a kidney transplant. According to family members, the hospital had already received over ₹52 lakh in payments for various treatments over the past year. Despite this, the family claims the hospital refused to release the body until the remaining balance of the medical bills was settled.

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In response, to the hospital’s actions the deceased woman’s family, along with several community members, gathered outside Jehangir Hospital’s gate and staged a hunger strike. The protestors are demanding the immediate release of the deceased woman’s body, accusing the hospital of being a “heartless and insensitive” act.

According to the recent media report in Pune Mirror, this incident has sparked a public outcry, with many condemning the hospital's actions. "This is not just a medical negligence issue; it is a matter of human dignity," said a family member of the deceased. "To hold a body over unpaid bills is inhumane, especially after we've already paid such a large sum for the treatment."

As the hunger strike continues, public anger intensifies, with the community demanding immediate intervention from local authorities. They are calling for action to ensure that hospitals respect basic human rights and dignity in such sensitive matters.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu: Tiruchy private hospital allegedly demands Rs 11 lakh to release 7-year-old boy's body

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that over failing to pay hospital bills, a private hospital based in Tiruchy allegedly withheld the body of a seven-year-old from his family who was undergoing treatment for a kidney ailment there and had eventually passed away. The parents of the child, who are from the Tiruvarur district could not pay an amount of Rs 11 lakh, following which the hospital refused to hand over the body.

Jehangir Hospitalhunger strikeunpaid bills