Child bitten by snake dies due to alleged medical negligence, turmoil in Purulia.

A primary health center in Puncha block, Purulia turned into a battlefield following the death of a child bitten by a snake, with allegations of negligence in treatment. An angry crowd surrounded the female doctor on duty, dragged her to the block health officer’s quarters, and staged a massive protest. The situation escalated so far that central forces had to be deployed on site. The agitated crowd then blocked the Manbazar-Lalpur road, demanding the removal of the Block Medical Officer and Health Manager and punishment for the doctor on duty. Senior health department officials rushed from the district headquarters. The Deputy Chief Health Officer of the district stated that after receiving the complaint, all information has been collected. The family of the deceased child has also filed a complaint. The entire matter will be reported to the Chief Health Officer of the district. According to sources from the district health department, the Block Medical Officer of Health of Puncha block primary health center has been issued a show-cause notice. The blockade was lifted after about five and a half hours following the intervention of senior officials.
It was reported that on Friday night, a seven-year-old child from Hathihar village in Puncha block was bitten by a snake while sleeping on a bed. The child’s father said that he was sleeping on the bed with one son and one daughter. Suddenly, his son woke up and said he had been bitten by a snake. Within ten minutes of speaking, he took his child from home and reached the Puncha block primary health center. The allegation is that no treatment was provided there. The complaint states that the child was left at the hospital for two long hours from 11 PM to 1 AM without any treatment. The family claims that the child died due to the extreme negligence and carelessness of the doctor. Although the antivenom was administered much later, the patient could not be saved.
As news of the child’s death spread, family members and local residents erupted in anger. People gathered in large numbers at the hospital premises. The agitated crowd first surrounded the doctor on duty and began a massive protest. When the tension reached its peak, the female doctor was practically dragged to the BMOH’s quarters located in the hospital premises. The angry crowd questioned why the BMOH himself did not come to supervise the child’s treatment despite knowing about such a major incident. The BMOH stated that the patient arrived around 11:10 PM. He learned about it at 12:45 AM. He came immediately after knowing. The accused doctor said that family members came and said their patient had been bitten by a snake. The patient was immediately kept under observation. As soon as breathing difficulties started, saline, oxygen, and ten vials of AVS were administered. Despite this, the patient could not be saved. Local people claim there are multiple allegations against the BMOH. Despite multiple complaints against him, no action has been taken.