Paramedical staff dismissed, five transferred; inquiry confirms breach of consent and protocol at PBM Hospital
Bikaner | In a disturbing case of medical malpractice, a contractual paramedic has been dismissed and five others transferred from Prince Bijoy Singh Memorial (PBM) Hospital in Bikaner after they allegedly conducted unauthorised blood tests on at least 15 infants—without prescriptions, parental consent, or standard safety precautions.
The incident took place around midnight in the Rathi Ward, when nursing officer Chetan, along with a hospital helper and others, collected blood samples from newborns while their mothers were asleep. Parents were allegedly misled to believe the tests were part of an emergency protocol, but no such directive existed.
Samples Sent to Private Lab
The samples were reportedly sent to Shri Balaji Lab & Diagnostic Center, a private diagnostic facility. Each test was billed at ₹500, even though such diagnostics are offered free within the government hospital. Printed reports were handed to parents within an hour, leading to confusion and alarm when doctors, unaware of any such tests, were approached the next morning.
Inquiry Ordered, Action Taken
PBM Hospital Superintendent Dr. Surendra Kumar Verma immediately ordered an internal inquiry. A four-member panel comprising doctors Gaurishankar Joshi, Shiv Shankar Jhanwar, and nursing superintendent Seema Kumari submitted its findings within 24 hours.
“The guilty will not be spared. We are committed to restoring public trust and ensuring that patient care is never compromised,” said Dr. Verma.
As a result:
- Ashok Legha, a contractual paramedical staffer, was terminated.
- Five other paramedics, including nursing officer Chetan, were transferred.
- A wider audit into diagnostic outsourcing is underway.
Broader Concerns Raised
This episode has exposed systemic loopholes in patient safety protocols and raised serious questions about the hospital’s accountability. Reports also point to a pattern of outsourcing routine blood tests, including CBC, LFT, and even HIV screening, to private labs—despite in-house capabilities.
Parents in Shock
Many of the infants were reportedly discharged early as panic spread through the ward. Parents expressed anger and helplessness over the deception.
A senior health official in Jaipur said the health department is monitoring the situation and may recommend state-level action against those found enabling or profiting from the unauthorized testing.
