25 bodies left unclaimed at GPHC morgue

…hospital urges relatives to claim bodies within 14 days

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Monday said a concerning number of unclaimed bodies are piling up at its morgue as a result of relatives failing to retrieve the remains of their loved ones or opting to do so at a later date.

In a noticed published in this newspaper, the hospital said 25 unclaimed bodies are currently being stored at its mortuary. According to the notice, “The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) wishes to inform the public that there are currently 25 unclaimed bodies at our mortuary. These bodies have remained unclaimed despite our efforts to locate the next of kin.”
In accordance with the hospital’s protocols, the GPHC would proceed with the final disposition of these bodies if they remain unclaimed within the next 14 days. Family members or other individuals who may have a connection to any of the deceased are being urged to come forward promptly.
For inquiries or to claim a body, persons can contact the GPHC Mortuary at (592) 225-3359.
This is not the first time that the hospital has been seeking relatives of persons at the facility. In other instances, GPHC had recorded an increase in abandoned patients. The hospital had previously said that while it functions primarily as a medium for patients to receive medical treatment, undue advantage has, over the years, been taken by persons who desert their family members who are suffering from a communicable disease or other sicknesses.