In a heartbreaking instance, a man left his paralysed wife in Apollo Multispeciality Hospital in Kolkata for more than three years, leaving behind an unpaid bill of over ₹1 crore. Her husband refused to take her home, claiming he was unable to care for her; thus, the woman, who was admitted in September 2021 after a serious accident that left her paralysed, has been left without family support. 

According to local media reports, the woman was seriously injured in the 2021 accident, requiring long-term care and a great deal of medical treatment, according to local media. Her spouse refused to take on her continuing care after her initial treatment, which included surgery and intensive care unit care that cost about ₹8 lakh. After numerous attempts to get in touch with the family to resolve the escalating debt and set up her release failed, the hospital turned to the Calcutta High Court for support. 

The spouse when was produced before Justice Amrita Sinha by the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in Kolkata during the court hearings. He said, "I lacked the means to support her treatment and care at home," in response to a query concerning his decision to not bring his wife home. The hospital told the court that the bill had increased to ₹1 crore due to the extended stay, which was significantly more than the original cost of treatment. 

Recognising the gravity of the situation, Justice Sinha ordered the state government to intervene. She gave the advocate general instructions to look into whether there are resources available to help patients who have been abandoned and to suggest workable alternatives for their care. Growing worries about the difficulties of long-term patient care and the financial strains on both families and healthcare providers are reflected in the court's intervention. 

Systemic problems, such as the lack of state-funded resources to help patients who need prolonged medical care in the absence of family support  have come to light as a result of this case,. The involvement of the Calcutta High Court might lead to a more extensive discussion about the roles that hospitals, families, and the government should play in handling such crises. 

There are serious moral and practical concerns raised by the three-year abandonment of a paralysed lady in a hospital in Kolkata. The husband's behaviour is concerning, but his assertion of financial difficulty highlights a more serious issue: India's dearth of easily accessible long-term care options. Hospitals, intended for acute care rather than long-term stays, bear an unjust burden when family members are unable or unwilling to intervene. The Calcutta High Court's request for state action is a positive step, but to stop similar incidents in the future, it needs to be implemented through concrete measures like financially supported care facilities or assistance for low-income families. This incident also prompts society to consider the importance of family responsibilities and the need for compassion during difficult times. Patients like this woman run the danger of becoming trapped in a state of neglect in the absence of both personal accountability and structural support, highlighting the pressing need for reform.