Cardboard splints for 2 fracture patients at Bihar Hospital, doctors served show-cause notices

Jehanabad: In a shocking incident, two youths with severe leg fractures were allegedly referred from Bihar’s Jehanabad Sadar Hospital to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) without being given plaster casts, with their injured legs reportedly supported with pieces of cardboard.

The incident came to light after images and videos of the two patients went viral on social media, prompting the district administration to take action against the doctors concerned. 

Also Read:Cardboard used as splint for fractured leg at Bihar Hospital, viral video sparks outrage

The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday near the Hulasganj police station area, where four youths were critically injured after two motorcycles collided. Two of the injured sustained serious fractures to their legs.

Locals rushed the injured youths to the Hulasganj Community Health Centre, where pieces of cardboard were reportedly wrapped around their fractured legs as an initial measure to stabilise them before they were referred to Jehanabad Sadar Hospital.

However, even at the district hospital, the two youths were not given plaster casts. They were instead referred to Patna’s PMCH in the same condition, with images showing the cardboard supports around their injured legs later circulating widely online, reports India Today.

Following the circulation of the images and videos, the Health Department Secretary took cognisance of the matter. The Jehanabad District Magistrate subsequently summoned the Civil Surgeon, Sadar Hospital Superintendent and District Programme Manager (DPM).

Show-cause notices were subsequently issued to the doctors concerned over the alleged negligence. They have been asked to submit their responses within 24 hours.

The administration is now seeking explanations regarding the treatment provided to the two patients at the Hulasganj Community Health Centre and Jehanabad Sadar Hospital.

The responses to the notices are expected to establish how the patients were managed at both facilities and whether established medical procedures were followed before their referral to PMCH.

In a recent post on X, Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav criticised the state government's handling of healthcare services over the incident. He questioned how a district hospital could refer a patient with a fractured leg to Patna without providing basic treatment such as plastering.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a government hospital in Bihar’s Begusarai district has come under scrutiny after a viral video showed a road accident victim’s fractured leg being supported with pieces of a medicine carton instead of a conventional plaster, sparking outrage and prompting an official inquiry.

Yadav also alleged that Bihar's health system had deteriorated under the NDA government and claimed that reforms introduced during the 17-month tenure of the previous government were not being implemented effectively.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also criticised the incident, questioning whether Jehanabad Sadar Hospital had adequate plaster supplies and facilities to treat patients with fractures.

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