West Champaran: A case of medical negligence has emerged from Bagaha sub-divisional hospital in West Champaran, after a six-year-old child was mistakenly administered an anti-rabies injection instead of treatment for a high fever.
Saurav Kumar, who resides in Pipariya, was brought to the hospital by his grandfather, Sanjay Chaudhary, after suffering a fever of 104 degrees Celsius. Dr. Arun Kumar, who was scheduled to be on duty, was attending a post-mortem at the time. Dr. Rampravesh Bharti, covering the outpatient department (OPD), reportedly prescribed the anti-rabies vaccine in error. Hospital staff subsequently administered the injection without verification.
The family only became aware of the mistake when they were called to return for the child’s next scheduled dose on September 1. “The child had never been bitten by a dog. We were shocked to learn that he had been given a rabies injection,” said Chaudhary.
Following the incident, the child was given fever medication. The hospital’s deputy superintendent, Dr. Ashok Kumar Tiwari, assured the family that the injection would not harm the child. “This mistake happened because the prescription for another patient was given instead of the child’s. There is no danger to the child,” he said.
The incident has sparked concern in both urban and rural communities in West Champaran, with the family calling it a “gross negligence” by medical staff. They have demanded a thorough investigation and action against those responsible.
