PATNA: A road accident victim at Manjhaul Sub-Divisional Hospital in Bihar’s Begusarai district was allegedly treated by immobilising his fractured leg with pieces of a medicine carton instead of a plaster, triggering outrage after a video of the procedure went viral on social media.The patient, identified as Kunal Kumar, is a resident of Maheshwara village under the Nawkothi police station limits. The incident took place on the evening of August 3.According to his family members, Kunal was riding his motorcycle when he met with an accident near Harsain Bridge. He suffered a fracture in his right leg and was taken to Manjhaul Sub-Divisional Hospital by locals and relatives.At the hospital, staff on duty allegedly placed two pieces of a medicine carton on either side of his fractured leg and secured them tightly with rope and bandages. After administering first aid, doctors referred him to Sadar Hospital in Begusarai.In the viral video, Kunal can be seen lying on a hospital bed with a pharmaceutical carton tied around his injured leg.When contacted, Manjhaul Hospital in-charge Dr Abhinav Priyadarshi defended the procedure. He admitted to the shortcomings but said the treatment was in line with medical protocol.“What you are calling a ‘koot’ or carton is called a splint in medical science. When a bone is broken, it is necessary to immobilise that part to prevent further internal damage,” Dr Priyadarshi said.He said there was no orthopaedic doctor or dresser available at the time, and the hospital also lacked plaster facilities.“To relieve the patient’s pain and prevent the leg from moving while shifting him to a higher centre, using available material as a splint is justified under medical protocol,” he added.Begusarai civil surgeon Dr Ashok Kumar said he had taken note of the viral video.“I have received information about the incident. The video has gone viral. I will get it investigated, and if anyone is found guilty, action will be taken,” he said.Dr Kumar added that using a carton as a temporary splint is recognised in medical practice for emergency first aid. “But if this was done at the hospital, it will be investigated,” he said.When asked, Manjhaul Hospital In-charge Dr Abhinav Priyadarshi defended the procedure. He admitted to the shortcomings but said it was done as per medical protocol.“What you are calling ‘koot’ or carton is called a splint in medical science. When a bone is broken, it is necessary to immobilize that part to prevent further internal damage,” Dr Priyadarshi said.He said there was no orthopaedic doctor or dresser available at the time and there was no arrangement for plaster either.“To give the patient relief from pain and to prevent the leg from moving while shifting him to a higher centre, tying a splint with available material is justified under medical protocol,” he added.
