Bareilly: In a serious case of alleged negligence at Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial (LLRM) Medical College, Meerut, a 30-year-old ward boy was terminated after he reportedly mistook spirit for water while refilling the oxygen chamber of a nebuliser meant for a four-year-old child. The incident was averted in time as other hospital staff noticed the error before it could cause harm to the child.
Staff Intervention Prevents Mishap
According to hospital authorities, the negligence was detected promptly by alert staff members, preventing a potentially dangerous outcome. The child remained unharmed due to timely intervention.
Ward Boy Allegedly Drunk on Duty
Speaking to TOI, College Principal R C Gupta said the ward boy was allegedly inebriated while on duty and had a prior history of reporting to work under the influence of alcohol. “He was removed immediately after the matter came to my notice. We have instructed ward in-charges and heads of departments to take immediate action against such staff,” Gupta said.
History of Repeated Negligence
Another ward boy claimed that the accused staff member had earlier been removed twice by the ward in-charge for negligence but had managed to return each time, allegedly because the principal was not informed about the previous incidents. Following the latest episode, the ward boy reportedly had a verbal altercation with the child’s parents, forcing senior staff to intervene and escort him away.
No Police Complaint Filed
Despite the seriousness of the incident, no police complaint was registered, as the child’s parents chose not to pursue legal action.
Second Misconduct Case in a Week
This is the second recent case involving misconduct by outsourced staff at LLRM Medical College. Just last week, two female ward attendants and another ward boy were terminated after CCTV footage allegedly showed them assaulting a deaf and mute woman in the ‘lawaris’ (unclaimed) ward. The video reportedly showed the staff inserting a stick into the woman’s mouth following a misunderstanding. No police case was filed in that incident either.
College Administration Issues Warning
Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, Principal Gupta said the college administration would act firmly against any form of indiscipline or nuisance within the hospital premises. “We are very strict about any kind of nuisance in the college or hospital, and we will immediately remove people involved in such acts,” he said.
The back-to-back incidents have raised concerns over monitoring and accountability of outsourced hospital staff, prompting calls for stricter supervision and enforcement of duty protocols.
