HIV+ patient who went missing from Kandivli hospital found dead on rail tracks

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Infamous for patients going missing every month, Shatabdi Hospital at Kandivli West has once again landed in a controversy with an HIV+ patient admitted to the hospital found dead on the railway tracks between Kandivli and Malad railway stations on February 1. According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), a Churchgate local hit the man, while he was crossing the tracks. Around 12.30 am on February 2, a railway constable arrived at the hospital with the body. An accidental death report was registered.

Also read - Mumbai: 312 kids, 15 psychiatric patients missing from JJ hospital since 2013

Criminal background
Police sources said that the 26-year-old patient was admitted on January 26 with complaints of loose motion and weakness. The deceased, who had several criminal cases registered against him, was arrested by the Kurar police last year. He was released on bail on January 25, as he was not well. His family members used to visit him at the hospital daily, while a friend stayed with him. The day he went missing, his friend had gone for dinner.

"A patient walked out with an IV-line on his wrist and four security guards failed to spot him. The security and administration are responsible for this negligence. If they had cooperated on time, then we would have been able to save a life," said the deceased's uncle.

Hospital's negligence
Dr Prashant Angre, medical superintendent, Shatabdi Hospital, said, "He changed his clothes. In such a case it's very difficult to differentiate between patients and relatives. When the nurse returned from rounds, he was not at his bed. She immediately informed the administration and a complaint was filed with the Kandivli police station in the matter."

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