Association says doctors cannot be held responsible for mortuary maintenance, calls for improved infrastructure in government hospitals
The Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) has strongly criticised the suspension of doctors linked to the recent incident at the mortuary of Government General Hospital Jadcherla in Hyderabad, and demanded that the state government immediately revoke the disciplinary action.
In a statement, the doctors’ body asserted that the responsibility for running and maintaining mortuary facilities round the clock does not fall under the duties of doctors. The association clarified that doctors are responsible only for conducting postmortem examinations according to medical and legal protocols, not for the management or security of mortuary infrastructure.
Suspensions Follow Outrage Over Mortuary Incident
The controversy erupted after the body of a deceased man was allegedly mauled by stray dogs inside the mortuary of the Jadcherla Government Hospital in Telangana, sparking widespread outrage and prompting swift administrative action.
Following the incident, authorities suspended four officials, including the hospital superintendent, Resident Medical Officer (RMO), a duty medical officer, and the Mortuary Nursing Officer (MNO).
Reports indicated that the deceased man’s body was kept on the floor of the mortuary instead of being properly preserved, as the facility reportedly lacked functional freezer units. During this lapse, stray dogs allegedly entered the mortuary and mauled the corpse before hospital staff returned.
HRDA Calls Doctors Victims of Administrative Failures
The HRDA said doctors should not be punished for administrative negligence and infrastructural deficiencies. According to the association, strengthening healthcare systems is more important than penalising frontline doctors.
In a press release signed by HRDA president N Karthik, the association stated that mortuary maintenance and security are the responsibility of designated staff such as health supervisors and support personnel, functioning under the supervision of the hospital administration.
The statement added that holding doctors accountable for lapses related to mortuary infrastructure, maintenance, or security is unfair and unjustified.
Dilapidated Mortuary Building Raises Concerns
The doctors’ body also highlighted reports suggesting that the current mortuary is located in an old hospital building in a dilapidated condition, making it vulnerable to the entry of animals such as dogs and rodents.
Such conditions, the association argued, point toward serious infrastructure and administrative failures rather than negligence by doctors.
New Mortuary Yet to Become Operational
HRDA further noted that a new mortuary building constructed in the new hospital premises has not yet been made operational. According to reports, the building is currently being used by contractors working on the hospital’s Trauma Care Centre, delaying its opening.
The association urged authorities to urgently operationalise the new mortuary facility, provide modern freezer units, improve infrastructure, and deploy adequate support staff across government hospitals.
Doctors Demand Transparent Investigation
HRDA has demanded the immediate withdrawal of suspension orders against the doctors involved in the Jadcherla incident and called for a fair and transparent investigation to identify the actual administrative lapses.
The association also warned that suspending doctors without addressing systemic problems creates a culture of scapegoating and demoralises the medical community, especially when government doctors are already working under heavy workloads, limited resources, and inadequate infrastructure.
