A shocking case of alleged medical negligence has come to light in Ulhasnagar, where an elderly man who was still alive was mistakenly declared dead by a doctor who subsequently issued a death certificate.
Abhiman Tayade, a 64-year-old man suffering from diabetes and other serious ailments, was admitted to Shivneri Private Hospital, Camp No. 4, in Ulhasnagar on the evening of June 12. The family had taken Tayade to the hospital in an autorickshaw. As he could not be shifted to the OPD, Dr. Prabhu Ahuja, a senior surgeon at the hospital, came out and examined him in the autorickshaw itself and reportedly declared him dead. He also issued a death certificate.
Tayade, who lives with his family and three children in Ulhasnagar, had been suffering from multiple health conditions, including jaundice and diabetes. He had previously been treated at JJ Hospital, where doctors advised further medical evaluation. Believing that there was still a chance of recovery, his family brought him home.
On the evening of June 12, his condition worsened, and he showed no signs of movement, prompting the family to rush him to Shivneri Hospital. After examining him, Dr. Ahuja declared him dead. He later claimed that he had advised the family to take Tayade to a hospital with ventilator support but was unable to explain why he issued the death certificate.
The family took Tayade home and began informing relatives of his apparent “death.” However, they later noticed abdominal movement and signs of life. He was immediately shifted to Criticare Hospital in Ulhasnagar, where he was admitted to the ICU and is currently undergoing treatment.
Dr. Prakash Kaurani of Criticare Hospital told The Free Press Journal, “The patient, Abhiman Tayade, was brought in with diabetes and jaundice on June 12. His condition is now stable. We also found a tumor in his abdomen. It’s shocking that a death certificate had already been issued by Shivneri Hospital while the patient was still alive, and the patient had not alerted the doctor.”
Dr. Prabhu Ahuja told the media, “The patient was brought in around 8:30 PM on June 12 in an unconscious state in an autorickshaw. He had been unresponsive for about 30 minutes. I observed foaming at the mouth and no breath sounds. I advised the family to take him to a hospital with a ventilator. However, they took him back home. Later, they returned requesting a death certificate, which I issued — not knowing he had survived. The family didn’t inform us he was alive. I feel misled.”
Dr. Ahuja further admitted that due to road construction noise near the hospital, he may not have clearly detected the patient's pulse while checking him in the autorickshaw. He apologized for the error.
