India, Oct. 12 -- Karnataka is considering a new law to enable legal action against private hospitals that withhold the bodies of dead patients over unpaid medical bills, state health minister U T Khader said on Monday. The proposed legislation aims to prevent hospitals from making payment a condition for handing over bodies.

Khader said the health department plans to consult hospital associations before finalising the proposed changes. "If someone dies in a private hospital, the family has to pay money to get the body. This places a financial burden on families already struggling and may not have the money. Hospitals should not withhold bodies to recover dues and make families suffer," Khader said.

He said the government identified sho...