Families of patients at Chaibasa District Hospital in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district have made serious allegations against the hospital administration, claiming they are being forced to sign handwritten undertakings accepting full responsibility for any adverse outcomes during blood transfusions.
HIV Positive Cases Trigger Controversial Practice
The controversial practice began after five children with thalassemia tested positive for HIV following blood transfusions at the hospital in recent weeks. This development created panic among both hospital staff and patient families, leading to what many are calling a cover-up attempt by the hospital administration.
Several families told The Indian Express that the hospital's blood bank has been facing severe shortages since the HIV cases emerged. Instead of ensuring safe blood availability, hospital staff have been directing patients to procure blood from MGM Medical College and Hospital's blood bank in Jamshedpur, approximately 130 kilometers away.
Families Forced to Accept Responsibility
In a shocking revelation, families alleged that even when hospital staff themselves traveled to collect blood units from MGM Medical College, they forced patients' relatives to sign declarations stating they had brought the blood themselves and would bear responsibility for any negative consequences.
The father of one HIV-positive thalassemia child described his distressing experience: "I was handed a hospital admission form and instructed to write: 'I am bringing blood from MGM for my patient and if anything happens, it is my responsibility, not the hospital's.'" He expressed his confusion and anger, adding, "I never went to MGM. The department staff went to bring the blood. Still, they asked me to write that I am responsible. I don't understand why."
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Another child's family, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted an almost identical experience. The father stated that when they went to admit their child, hospital staff handed him a form and demanded he write that the family would be responsible if anything happened to the patient during treatment.
"They asked me to copy the same lines onto the admission form and sign it," he revealed. The father further alleged that such demands began only after several thalassemia children contracted HIV following transfusions at the hospital.
He made a serious accusation against the hospital administration: "First they made a big mistake and gave those children HIV, now they want other patients to take responsibility for anything that happens. They are putting the blame on the patients and their families."
Official Intervention and Response
When contacted by The Indian Express, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Sandeep Anurag Topno declared the practice "inappropriate" and ordered its immediate termination. Topno confirmed that he has discussed the matter with the concerned doctor and asked for prompt action to address the situation.
Civil Surgeon Bharti Minz, when approached for comments, stated she would investigate the matter with the blood bank staff. However, the intervention came only after affected families directly approached SDO Topno with their complaints.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges in rural healthcare infrastructure and raises serious questions about patient rights and medical accountability in government healthcare facilities. The incident has sparked concerns about transparency in medical procedures and the protection of vulnerable patients in the Indian healthcare system.
