Donate my body for teaching anatomy: Elderly’s suicide note

Donate my body for teaching anatomy: Elderly’s suicide note

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:31.01.2021

A computer-typed suicide note with a hand-scribbled signature, neatly placed under a bundle of currency notes, was found on a table in the bedroom, where an elderly couple clothed in starched white was found hanging from the ceiling in an upscale Aliganj neighbourhood on Saturday.

The businessman, who could not pay Rs 1crore in debt, allegedly ended his life with his wife, leaving behind the note, willing that his body be donated to a medical education institute for teaching “human anatomy” and his wife be given a decent cremation with Rs 15,000 in cash kept atop the suicide note.

Identified as Mathew Joseph, 60, and Lucy Joseph, 58, the couple’s bodies for taken for autopsy from their Sector Q, Aliganj, residence. Hailing from Kerala, Josephs had settled in Lucknow in 1986 and made the city their home, but for over past few years, they were wallowing in loneliness with their only daughter settled in London, said police.

Owner of a firm dealing in electronic goods and solar panels, Mathew was struggling in his business since 2016 and had taken loans of around Rs 1 crore from several banks and private money lenders, which he couldn’t repay due to heavy losses, said additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP), North, Rajesh Srivastava.

Bizman leaves ₹15k in cash atop suicide note for wife’s cremation

A printed suicide note had Joseph's name scribbled at the bottom, stating he was ending his life because of debt and left instructions that his body be donated to medical students and the money be used for last rites of his wife, Lucy,” said Srivastava.

Bodies in medical institutes are used to teach human anatomy to MBBS first year students. Most educational institutes are reeling under scarcity of bodies and using dummies and 3D models for teaching purpose.

“The note did not specify anything about medical education, but as it said the body should be donated to medical students, we presume that it is meant for teaching anatomy at MBBS level,” said the ADCP. “Our probe revealed the couple had been away for a fortnight and had returned two days back,” he added.

The incident came to light in the morning when the couple’s next-door neighbour, Pankaj Arora, came to their house to take Mathew along for morning walk, but did not get response to calls. Arora peeped inside and was shocked to see the couple hanging from the ceiling of the room and informed police.