E-Paper
6 health workers sacked after viral video of dog inside Kushinagar district hospital emergency
Services of six health workers were terminated on Thursday evening hours after a viral video that showed a stray dog licking blood of an injured person inside the emergency ward of Kushinagar district hospital
Services of six health workers were terminated on Thursday evening hours after a viral video that showed a stray dog licking blood of an injured person inside the emergency ward of Kushinagar district hospital.
Kushinagar district magistrate, S Raj Lingam issued the termination orders. He has also sought an explanation from chief medical superintendent and two medical officers.
After the viral video, the Kushinagar DM had ordered an ADM-ranked officer to verify the incident and initiated the action after the report was received.
Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, who is also the state’s health minister, had earlier ordered a probe into the glaring lapse.
Health department officials said, a 25-year-old, identified as Bittu, was injured in a road accident on the night of November 1 near a village under Jathan police station of Kushinagar. He was admitted to hospital’s emergency ward. A viral video showed a stray dog licking blood from his wounds.
“The incident tarnished image of the district and that is why services of six health workers were terminated,” the DM said. He said further action would be taken after receiving a detailed report on the incident.
Chief medical superintendent Dr S K Rai said that the patient had fallen down from his bed while the staff on duty were talking to other patients. In the meantime, a stray dog sneaked inside the hospital emergency. Someone made a video of the entire incident and uploaded it on social media.
Action followed after deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak took notice of the viral video.
“Taking note of the video that shows a dog roaming near the patient in emergency ward of the district hospital in Kushinagar, I have ordered a probe to be conducted by chief medical officer of Kushinagar,” Pathak tweeted.
“Action will be taken against those found guilty once the report is submitted,” he added.
“The incident took place inside the district hospital. In fact, the entire staff on duty in the emergency wing of the hospital is under scanner,” said Dr Suresh Pataria, chief medical officer, Kushinagar on phone.
He said that the report will be sent to deputy CM office soon. In the report, it is mentioned that the patient was lying on the floor as no stretcher could be provided to him. It also raised question on how no medical staff attended to the seriously injured patient.
Abdur Rahman and Gaurav Saigal
