Shocking! Man gets 'cardboard treatment' for fractured leg at primary health centre in Bihar

Digital Desk: In an alarming case of medical negligence, a man from Muzaffarpur in Bihar received unexpected treatment at a government hospital after suffering a leg injury in an accident. However, he was in for a surprise as the doctors used a cardboard cast to fix his fractured leg.  The physicians at the second hospital where he was referred, did not take off the cardboard cast off his leg either.

The patient, known as Mukesh Kumar, suffered an injury in an accident while riding his bike and was admitted to a primary health centre (PHC) in the Minapur area of Muzaffarpur on June 7. He also had additional injuries. His fractured bone was treated by the surgeons with a cardboard cast.

Following this initial treatment, Kumar was referred to Shree Krishna Medical College (SKMCH) for further care. Notably, the medical staff at SKMCH did not replace the cardboard cast, continuing to use it from June 7 to June 11. This continued negligence drew the attention of local media, prompting hospital officials to address the matter urgently.

Mukesh Kumar recounted his experience, saying, "Last Saturday, I met with an accident while riding my bike. After the accident, I was referred to SKMCH with a cardboard cast from the primary health centre, and it's still the same..." This statement underscored the lack of proper medical care he received over several days.

SKMCH's Medical Superintendent, Dr. Vibha, responded to the incident, noting that Kumar arrived from Minapur with the cardboard cast still in place. She explained that the orthopedic department had planned to replace the cast with a proper slab after a thorough examination. Dr. Vibha also ordered an investigation to determine why a cardboard cast was used at the PHC in the first place.

This incident highlights significant lapses in medical care at both the PHC and SKMCH, raising concerns about the quality of healthcare provided to patients in critical need. The probe ordered by SKMCH is expected to shed light on the negligence and ensure such occurrences are prevented in the future.