Crying family of Sikh man after his beard is cut

A family is left feeling “devastated” after a hospital violated a 91-year-old Sikh man’s religious beliefs by shaving his beard without his consent.

The incident occurred during a routine sponge bath on Thursday morning at a major hospital in west London.

His family said the frail patient had suffered a small stroke, leaving him unable to talk or sometimes be aware of his surroundings.

In a statement, the hospital, which cannot be named due to security concerns, said: “We are deeply sorry and we are taking this matter very seriously, it was a genuine mistake and we are now supporting the patient’s family. Working together to do.”

In Sikhism, hair is considered sacred, according to the Rehat Maryada or Sikh code of conduct, initiated Sikhs are prohibited from cutting or shaving any body hair.

Keisha Sethi, a family member from west London, said she was “heartbroken” when she saw her grandfather.

She said her aunt was crying, her father was “disappointed” and she said her grandfather would be “furious” if he could react.

The man has been in the hospital for four weeks and family members visit every day.

Ms Sethi said she felt “very helpless” and wanted to spread awareness that “everyone’s belief system should be respected and provided the same level of care, regardless of the person’s ethnic background”.

He said the area is ethnically diverse and he hopes employees will be educated about religious beliefs.

Another family member, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were “devastated” and “hurt” after learning that this happened to a man who had kept his hair for more than 90 years.

When the nurses first asked him to cut the hair, he said “absolutely not”.

The family was in the corridor outside the room at the time of the incident and were told that his beard had been cut off because food was stuck in it.

The doctors and staff have apologized and the family understands that they “tried to do the right thing”, but “because of our beliefs and our culture, it was the worst thing they could have done”.

The family said: “Awareness needs to be raised and staff need to undergo training before being deployed to deal with ethnic minorities.”