M'luru: Man undergoing treatment 'wrongly' declared as dead

A man who was receiving treatment at Wenlock hospital here was ‘wrongly’ declared dead by the police to the patient’s family.

The man, Shekhar Gowda (55), a resident of Dharmasthala was admitted to the hospital on June 15 due to severe illness. As there were no relatives with him, the hospital staff, as per the protocol, informed Pandeshwar Police Station stating that the patient was in a critical condition.

The police then emailed the information to Belthangady Police Station, which forwarded it to Dharmasthala Police Station. The report highlighted the critical condition. However, while sending the email, the Pandeshwar police mistakenly typed “deceased” in the subject line instead of “critical condition.”

The Dharmasthala police, upon reading the email, assumed Shekhar Gowda had passed away and informed his relatives accordingly. However, when the relatives and the Dharmasthala police went to Wenlock Hospital, they found Shekhar Gowda alive.

“No mistake from the hospital”

Despite the records indicating a critical/unconscious condition, the police error in the email subject line was the cause of the confusion, clarified Dr. Jacintha, the Medical Superintendent of Wenlock Hospital.