In a chilling case of medical negligence, a 25-year-old man in India regained consciousness just moments before being cremated. The incident, which occurred in Rajasthan, has led to the suspension of three doctors and sparked outrage over the lack of proper medical procedures.
The man, Rohitash Kumar, who was both deaf and mute, had been declared dead by doctors at a government hospital without a mandatory postmortem examination. Tragically, despite being rushed back to the hospital after waking up on the funeral pyre, Kumar passed away a day later due to his initial medical condition.
Kumar, who was staying at a home for the mentally impaired, began experiencing severe epileptic seizures and was rushed to a hospital in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Doctors there declared him dead, citing his condition, but failed to perform a postmortem—a standard procedure required in such cases.
“There were no near relatives of his present,” said Jhunjhunu Superintendent of Police Sharad Choudhary. “The doctors were supposed to do a postmortem of the youth, but they did not do anything. They just fulfilled the paper formalities and sent the man for cremation. When the body was kept on the pyre, he woke up.”
Kumar had reportedly spent three hours in the hospital’s freezing morgue before being taken for cremation. Video footage obtained by The Daily Mail shows him in a catatonic state before his sudden revival.
Following the shocking incident, Rajasthan’s health department launched an investigation into the actions of the three doctors involved. District Collector Ramavtar Meena confirmed their suspension, citing “gross misconduct.”
“Doctors Yogesh Jhkhar, Navneet Meel, and Sandeep Prachar did not perform a postmortem and sent the man for cremation,” Meena stated. “We have asked for a report from the medical department soon.”
The incident has not only raised questions about the competence of the medical staff but also highlighted systemic issues in the healthcare system, particularly in rural areas where oversight is often lacking.
Despite being saved from a horrifying fate, Kumar succumbed to his medical condition a day after the incident. The circumstances of his death have intensified calls for reforms in hospital protocols to ensure such incidents do not recur.
The case has also drawn attention to the treatment of vulnerable individuals, particularly those with disabilities, in the healthcare system. Advocates for the rights of disabled individuals have called for stricter accountability and better training for medical professionals.
Shockingly, this is not the first time such a mishap has occurred. In 2023, a 66-year-old woman in Iowa was found “gasping for air” inside a body bag just before her cremation. She had been mistakenly declared dead at the Glen Oaks Alzheimer’s Special Care Centre in Urbandale, Iowa.
The woman, who suffered from early-onset dementia, anxiety, and depression, was sent to the Ankeny Funeral Home and Crematory after being pronounced dead. Funeral staff were stunned to discover that she was still alive.
These incidents underscore a disturbing trend of negligence and procedural lapses in both healthcare and end-of-life care.
The Rajasthan incident has reignited calls for stricter medical protocols to prevent premature declarations of death. Experts argue that mandatory checks, including postmortem examinations, must be rigorously enforced, especially in government-run hospitals.
Additionally, there is a growing demand for better training of medical staff to handle cases involving vulnerable populations, such as individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions.
“This is a tragic reminder of the gaps in our healthcare system,” said an advocate for disability rights. “Lives are at risk when protocols are ignored or poorly implemented.”
While this case has shocked India, similar incidents around the world highlight that medical negligence knows no borders. From rural hospitals in developing nations to specialized care centers in developed countries, lapses in end-of-life care continue to occur, sometimes with horrifying consequences.
As investigations into the Rajasthan case continue, the focus remains on ensuring justice for Rohitash Kumar and preventing such tragedies from happening again.
Whether through stricter oversight, enhanced training, or systemic reforms, one thing is clear: mistakes like these cannot be allowed to repeat.
