The CHU Nedir Mohamed hospital in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, has issued a statement addressing a video circulating on social media that appears to show the body of a deceased patient left on a stretcher in a hospital corridor. The hospital claims the video is "misleading and manipulated" and does not accurately represent the circumstances surrounding the patient's death. According to the hospital, the area shown in the video is not a typical storage space for deceased patients, but rather a designated area for storing bodies temporarily.
The hospital explained that the area in question is a room located near the hospitalization rooms, which serves as a vestiaire where bodies are kept for the two hours following the initial declaration of death by a doctor, before being transferred to the morgue. The hospital emphasized that this room is not used for the purposes suggested by the manipulated video and that a separate sanitary space is always accessible to patients. The hospital's statement also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased patient.
The family of the deceased patient, Amer Yahia, who died on April 6, 2019, at the Tizi-Ouzou hospital, has publicly expressed their indignation at the act and gratitude to the hospital staff for their care. The family's representative, Ameziane, and a cousin met with the hospital's director-general and secretary-general to discuss the matter. The family signed a declaration, posted on the hospital's Facebook page, thanking the staff for their good care of the patient during his stay at the hospital.
The video that sparked the controversy was published on social media on April 6, 2019, and shows the body of Moussa Amer Yahia, a patient who died at the Tizi-Ouzou hospital. The hospital's management has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the video does not accurately represent the circumstances surrounding the patient's death. The incident has raised concerns about the handling of deceased patients' bodies in Algerian hospitals.
The hospital's statement aims to clarify the situation and reassure the public that the body of the deceased patient was handled with respect and in accordance with hospital procedures. The management of CHU Nedir Mohamed emphasized that the room shown in the video is not a storage space for deceased patients and that the body was transferred to the morgue within the required timeframe.
The family's reaction to the incident highlights the emotional impact of such controversies on the families of deceased patients. The family's declaration, posted on the hospital's Facebook page, expresses their gratitude to the hospital staff and their indignation at the act that led to the controversy. The incident has sparked a wider debate about hospital procedures and the handling of deceased patients' bodies in Algeria.
The CHU Nedir Mohamed hospital has reiterated its commitment to providing quality care to patients and respecting the dignity of deceased patients and their families. The hospital's management has expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased patient and emphasized its willingness to cooperate with the family and address any concerns they may have.
Key points
- The CHU Nedir Mohamed hospital in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, has denied allegations of mishandling a deceased patient's body, calling a social media video "misleading and manipulated".
- The hospital explained that the area shown in the video is a temporary storage space for bodies, used for a maximum of two hours before transfer to the morgue.
- The family of the deceased patient has expressed gratitude to the hospital staff for their care and indignation at the act that led to the controversy.
