Wrong body cremated after hospital mix-up

The body of Hassan Abdullah or Lin Ah San@ Lim Ah San was mistaken for that of Chu Kim San and had been cremated by the time the error was discovered.

PETALING JAYA: It was a case of mistaken identity with grave consequences for a hospital which handed over the wrong body for cremation yesterday.

Reports said the body of 74-year-old Hassan Abdullah or Lin Ah San@ Lim Ah San was accidentally handed over by the Kajang Hospital to a Buddhist welfare centre, which cremated it that same day.

The mistake only came to light after the Al-Fikrah Malaysia Welfare Home went to claim the body of Hassan, who was a resident of the home.

It was then discovered that Hassan’s body had been mistaken for that of Chu Kim San, who like Hassan, was in his 70s.

In a report in the New Straits Times, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed the mix-up and expressed regret that such an incident could have occurred.

He said the forensic department at every hospital had standard operating procedures outlining the process of handing over the deceased to their next of kin.

“Stern action will be taken against the staff who did not comply with the SOP and guidelines,” he was quoted as saying.

The hospital and the Selangor Health Department (JKNS) have launched investigations to determine the cause of the mistake. -FMT