Chennai: Govindamma — the name hospital staff at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital gave a 70-something-year-old woman — reached the hospital after a road accident nearly three months ago. The staff still know nothing about her, as the patient is not coherent.“She is recovering, but may take some more time before she can tell us more about her,” said Dr Priya Malini, associate professor of geriatric medicine and in-charge of the ward for unidentified patients. The ward has many John Does and Jane Does, the placeholder names used to refer to unidentified people in the US, the UK and Canadian legal systems.As many as 769 people were admitted to this rehabilitation ward over the past five years. Now, 23 patients — 17 men and six women — across age groups, stay here. They speak multiple languages; some recollect their names, while others are given interim names for identification.Some patients know only their names. “For instance, 25-year-old Kishan* is fluent in a language that none of us understand,” Dr Malini said. “They were treated in different wards for multiple ailments, but are moved back here later. They don’t have attenders and need special care,” she said. Patients are reunited with families if identified and accepted, or shifted to city homes. “We ask for Aadhaar or a phone number to trace their families,” said staff nurse P Dhanalakshmi. “Recently, a 50-year-old man from Nepal with dementia was reunited with his family with police assistance,” she said.The police match patients with missing-person complaints in their home state or country, said R Gopinath, sub-inspector at C4 police station.However, tracing one’s family does not always ensure reunion. The family of 60-year-old Venkadesan* from nearby Tiruvottiyur, refused to take him back. He told the hospital he wanted to move to a night shelter and start working during the day. “We couldn’t find a home with toilets accessible for those with amputated or broken limbs. That facility exists only at the govt hospital,” said Vetri Thamizhan, a social worker with HelpAge India.Some are working at the hospital itself. “A few are engaged in sanitation work. Doctors pooled money and employed those who recovered to run errands,” said hospital dean K Shantaraman.*Names changed for anonymity
