Mumbai: Kin of man who died in MRI mishap face an indefinite wait for his finger

Rajesh Maru

Family of Lalbaug resident Rajesh Maru, 32, who died in a freak MRI mishap at Nair hospital last week, will have to wait longer to bring peace to his soul. Hospital authorities have refused to hand over his severed finger, which remains attached to the machine, until investigation in the incident is over.

No idea when
Maru's family members, who are desperate to finish the last rites completely, paid a visit to the hospital yesterday, only to return empty-handed. Maru died on January 27 after getting pulled into the MRI machine and inhaling liquid oxygen. His hand holding the cylinder had got trapped in the machine, and attempts made to free him had broken his finger, which is still inside.

Also read - Mumbai MRI death: Kin want dead man's finger for last rites

"We are Hindus, and it is essential for us to cremate all body parts for peace to the deceased's soul. While we have cremated him, we need to do the same to his finger. So, we have been making rounds of the hospital to retrieve it.

On Wednesday, when I went to meet the officials, they said they wouldn't be able to give it back till the investigation was over. I don't know when and in what condition we'll get it back," said Maru's brother-in-law Harish Solanki. "When I asked when the investigation would get over, I didn't get any response. So, we have to keep waiting."

Probe first
As per officials, experts from Philips, the manufacturer of the MRI machine, were supposed to start working to remove the oxygen cylinder and the finger from it. But as a police investigation is underway, the MRI room has been sealed and they have been asked to wait. "As the police investigation is going on, the company has been told not to start its work yet; we have kept the room sealed as requested," said a senior health officer from BMC.

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