Stanley hospital viral video: Chennai hospital worker leaves boiled eggs besides patients at bed

A viral video showing a worker at Chennai’s Government Stanley Hospital leaving boiled eggs beside patients instead of serving them properly has triggered questions over patient care. The 40-second clip went viral on Wednesday, prompting the Tamil Nadu health department to order an inquiry. On Thursday, Health Minister K G Arunraj said the worker was sincere and claimed the video was linked to an alleged demand for Rs 20,000 from the employee, a TOI report stated.

What happened at Stanley Hospital?

The video showed boiled eggs being dropped near patients, one beside a patient with a plastered arm and another near a patient’s leg. The footage quickly spread on social media, raising concerns about how food was being served to patients at the government hospital.

Arunraj said the department began looking into the matter after the video surfaced. According to him, the employee told investigators that a patient had asked him to leave the egg on the bed because there were no attendants around.


The minister said the video was actually recorded nearly five months ago. He also alleged that the person who recorded it later sought money from the hospital employee.

“We found the video was recorded nearly five months ago and that the person who filmed it had since demanded Rs 20,000 from the employee. He released the footage with malicious intent, when the employee refused to pay,” he said.

What the hospital inquiry found

Arunraj’s explanation was based on a report submitted by Stanley Hospital dean Dr A Aravind. The report referred to an inquiry conducted by the heads of the plastic surgery, neurology and orthopaedics departments.

The inquiry concluded that the eggs had not been thrown at the patients. It also said there was no hygiene violation because the shells remained intact.

The committee further ruled out caste discrimination, noting that the employee involved belonged to a Scheduled Caste.

According to the report, the incident became an issue of alleged extortion after the person who filmed the video sought money from the employee. It also said the video had been “deliberately politicised” after the alleged demand was not met.

Questions remain over how food was served

The inquiry, however, did not address several questions raised by the footage. It did not explain why the eggs were not served as part of the meal or why they were left without plates or cups. The report also did not mention action against the employee over the manner in which the food was handled.

Questions have also been raised about the role of nurses and duty doctors who may have been present when the incident occurred.

Patient’s family questions government response

Kauvery S, whose husband was admitted to Stanley Hospital two weeks ago, questioned the government’s acceptance of the inquiry report.

“It’s unbelievable. How could the govt accept the report without asking serious questions? Just because patients are treated free, they can’t be mistreated like this,” Kauvery S, whose husband was admitted to Stanley Hospital two weeks ago, told ToI.

She also said the practice shown in the video was not an isolated occurrence. “I have seen them serving eggs like this on several days,” she said.

Doctor says hospitals must prevent such incidents

Senior doctors have also raised concerns about the way patients were treated.

Vascular surgeon Dr J Amalorpavanathan said hospitals should not allow patients to be treated in a disrespectful manner.

“At least now, the government must ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he said.

The controversy has therefore shifted beyond the viral video itself, with questions now focusing on how food is served to patients and whether basic standards of dignity and care are being followed inside the hospital.


(Inputs frm TOI)