The state health directorate issued showcause notices to a doctor and two nurses of Khardah’s Balaram Hospital for dereliction of duty that led to a mix-up of names of two aged Covid patients, wherein a 75-year-old patient died but the family of a 62-year-old patient who was alive was informed of the death.

The error in hospital data entry came to light on Friday when Birati resident, Sibnath Bandyopadhyay, 62, was waiting for release after his recovery. But Sibnath’s name was recorded as Khardah’s Mohini Mohan Mukhopadhyay, 75, in hospital records, and authorities called up the latter’s family. When Mohini Mohan’s son Sudip arrived, he said the man wasn’t his father. Mohini Mohan, in fact, had died earlier this month, but Sibnath’s family had informed about “Sibnath’s” death. Sibnath’s son Sanjib, who was preparing for his shraddha scheduled for Saturday, came to the hospital to take his father home.

Sources at Balaram Hospital said data entry error occurred when Mohini Mohan was being shifted to Kadamgachi Covid hospital in Barasat.

Directorate of health services Ajoy Chakraborty said: “The incident has embarrassed us immensely.”

“We have identified a doctor and two nurses of Balaram hospital (for the lapse) and they have been issued show-cause notices and asked to reply by Tuesday. Once we get those, necessary action will be taken against them. Nobody will be spared for negligence,” Chakraborty said, but refused to disclose the three names.

On the directorate’s orders, the chief medical officer of health, North 24-Parganas, had formed a four-member inquiry panel that submitted its report on Friday night, identifying the hospital employees.