Probe ordered after doctor refuses to treat J&K patient

An inquiry has been ordered into an incident that took place at the civil hospital in Jalandhar, where a doctor turned away a woman patient from Kashmir, saying, “You throw stones at our security forces in the Valley and come here to seek treatment.”

Javaid Ahmad Malik said he took his mother Nasreena to the neurosurgery department last Thursday for treatment of Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm. Malik said the doctor threw away reports after they learnt they were from Kashmir. Malik also accused the doctor of misleading them saying the treatment would cost Rs 15 lakh, contrary to Rs 80,000 that other patients were suggested. No complaint has been registered by the family so far.

‘Infected blood’

In another incident, at least 50 children undergoing treatment for Thalassemia at the hospital were transfused with ‘infected blood’.

The impure blood transfusion has left children with another medical condition, Hepatitis C, it is learnt.  The government has ordered a probe into the gross medical negligence that came to light after a team from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research visited the hospital. Senior doctors noticed abnormal medical symptoms in patients undergoing treatment for thalassemia. Over 24 children infused with infected blood are said to be in the age group of 5 to 12 years. The allegation is that the hospital’s blood bank authorities failed to conduct the requisite tests before giving blood to the children.