Vimal Baitha Intervenes, Hospital Waives Rs 2 Lakh Dues; Body Released to Family of Jugsalai Man
Key Points:
- TMH allegedly refuses to release body of Juru Gop until Rs 2 lakh outstanding bill is cleared
- Family had already spent Rs 3.5 lakh, mortgaging house and jewellery for treatment
- BJP leader Vimal Baitha intervenes; hospital waives dues and releases body
JAMSHEDPUR – Tata Main Hospital found itself at the centre of controversy after it allegedly withheld the body of a 45-year-old man from Jugsalai constituency’s Luabasa locality over an outstanding bill of approximately Rs 2 lakh, with the family stating they had already exhausted their savings on treatment.
The deceased, Juru Gop, had suffered serious injuries five days earlier after falling from a rooftop. He was rushed to Tata Main Hospital and placed in the ICU, where he remained on a ventilator throughout his treatment. His family, in a desperate bid to fund the medical care, had mortgaged their house and jewellery. A family member said total expenditure had already crossed Rs 3.5 lakh by the time of his death.
After five days on the ventilator, Juru Gop passed away. The hospital administration subsequently informed the family that approximately Rs 2 lakh remained unpaid. His son alleged that despite informing the hospital of the family’s financial distress, the administration refused to hand over the body until the dues were settled.
On learning of the incident, BJP leader Vimal Baitha reached the hospital and held discussions with the management. He urged them to waive the outstanding amount on humanitarian grounds, citing the family’s broken financial condition. After prolonged negotiations, the hospital management agreed to waive the Rs 2 lakh bill.
The body was thereafter handed over to the family and brought back to Luabasa, where the last rites were performed in a grief-stricken atmosphere.
Juru Gop’s son expressed his gratitude to Vimal Baitha, saying the family had been completely shattered financially and even conducting the funeral had seemed impossible. Baitha, meanwhile, said that hospitals must adopt a sensitive approach during moments of grief and that withholding a body over money is inhumane.
The incident has raised fresh questions about hospital billing policies and the conduct of institutions during medical emergencies.
