5 youngsters take a look at HIV-positive after blood transfusion at Jharkhand hospital

A stunning case of medical negligence has surfaced in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, the place no less than 5 youngsters, together with a seven-year-old thalassemia affected person, have reportedly examined HIV-positive after receiving blood transfusions on the government-run hospital in Chaibasa.

The incident has sparked outrage and panic throughout the state’s well being division, prompting an instantaneous investigation by a high-level medical group from Ranchi.

The matter first got here to mild on Friday when the household of a thalassemia-affected baby alleged that HIV-infected blood was transfused to him on the Chaibasa Sadar Hospital blood financial institution.

Following the criticism, the Jharkhand authorities dispatched a five-member medical group, led by Director of Well being Companies Dr Dinesh Kumar, to research the allegations.

4 MORE TEST POSITIVE

Preliminary findings have made the state of affairs even graver. In the course of the group’s inspection on Saturday, 4 extra youngsters affected by thalassemia had been discovered to be HIV-positive, taking the whole variety of affected minors to 5. All the kids had been receiving common transfusions on the identical hospital.

The revelation has triggered widespread alarm. “Preliminary investigation signifies that contaminated blood was transfused to a thalassemia affected person. Some discrepancies had been detected within the blood financial institution through the probe, and the officers involved have been directed to resolve them,” Dr. Dinesh Kumar instructed reporters.

For now, the hospital’s blood financial institution has been positioned beneath emergency operations mode and can solely cater to crucial circumstances for the following few days.

PROBE UNDERWAY, IRREGULARITIES FOUND

The probe group, which included Dr Shipra Das, Dr SS Paswan, Dr Bhagat, District Civil Surgeon Dr Sushanto Kumar Majhee, Dr Shivcharan Hansda, and Dr Minu Kumari, inspected each the blood financial institution and the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The group additionally interacted with the households of the affected youngsters.

In line with preliminary observations, a number of irregularities had been discovered within the blood financial institution’s functioning — together with lapses in blood pattern testing, document upkeep, and adherence to security protocols. A report detailing these irregularities has been submitted to the state well being division.

District Civil Surgeon Dr. Sushanto Kumar Majhee stated {that a} thorough probe is underway to find out how the an infection unfold. Majhee, nevertheless, added that it could be “untimely to conclude” that the an infection got here solely from the blood transfusion, noting that HIV an infection might additionally happen on account of different elements, together with publicity to contaminated needles.

The household of the primary contaminated baby has lodged a criticism with the district administration and state authorities, demanding accountability and justice. Native representatives have additionally known as for a high-level inquiry.

Manjhari Zila Parishad member Madhav Chandra Kunkal alleged that the incident might have been pushed by “private vendetta,” claiming {that a} dispute involving a blood financial institution worker and the kid’s relative had been pending in courtroom for a yr.

HIGH COURT TAKES NOTE

The incident has now reached the Jharkhand Excessive Court docket, which has taken observe of the matter and sought a report from the state well being secretary and the district civil surgeon.

At present, West Singhbhum district has 515 HIV-positive circumstances and 56 thalassemia sufferers, in response to official information. Well being officers have been directed to hint all blood donors linked to the transfusions in query to forestall additional unfold.

– Ends