Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
These images show an elderly hospital patient tied to a bed with rope because he reportedly could not pay his medical bills and an investigation has now been launched.
The startling images were taken at City Hospital in the city of Shajapur in the state of Madhya Pradesh in west-central and caused outrage online.
The images show elderly patient Lakshmi Narayan, who some reports state is 80 years old, tied to a hospital bed with ropes to his ankles and wrists.
Reports state he was tied to the bed after his family had failed to pay 11,270 INR (118 GBP) as he was being discharged after treatment, with the family having already paid 11,000 INR (115 GBP) for his treatment.
The patient was eventually released and returned home to the village of Ranara in the nearby Rajgarh District.
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, 61, said an investigation into the “cruel” act has been launched as the hospital deny the patient was tied up for non-payment of bills.
The hospital administration say the patient had been suffering from convulsions and intestinal problems, with staff needing to restrain him for medicine to be administered.
District health official Dinesh Jain said a committee had been set up to determine why the patient was tied up and the investigation is ongoing.
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