Negligence: Boy dies after being ‘refused’ anti-rabies vaccine

Hospital staff allegedly told 12 people there was no vaccine.

FAISALABAD:

A boy bitten by a rabid dog on Tuesday died on Wednesday after allegedly being denied anti-rabies vaccine at the Samundri THQ Hospital.

The dog also bit 11 other members of the family.

Sultan Ahmad, a resident of Chak 204-GB, said the family did not realize that their pet dog had gone mad. “It bit 12 members of the family, including myself, on Tuesday,” he said.

Those bitten included Faizan Bibi, 40, Sufiyan, 10, Surayya, 9, Ruqayya, 8, Asima, 6, Saima, 1.5, Faizan,10, Ahmad, 35, Nawab, 40, Ramazan and Iqra.

He said the family went to Samundri THQ Hospital to get vaccinated but a staff member said no anti-rabies vaccine was available.

He said when they got home, Faizan’s condition deteriorated and he died.

After the report was aired on TV the staff of Samundri THQ hospital contacted the family and vaccinated them.

Sumundri THQ Medical superintendent Dr Muhammad Saeed Zahidi said there is no vaccine in the hospital. “The family returned due to a misunderstanding,” he said. He said an inquiry will be held on the complaint of staff refusing to administer anti-rabies vaccine.

Ahmad said the staff had denied they had the vaccine. He said the inquiry must be conducted by independent officers.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2012.