Patient sent home with glass shards left in his hand in Chilmari; health official says 'sorry'

In Chilmari, Kurigram, pieces of broken glass entered Saidar Mia's left hand after he was injured by an electric shock. He went to the Chilmari Upazila Health Complex for treatment, where, he alleges, he was sent home after primary treatment with the glass pieces still inside his hand. The incident has raised questions about the standard of care at the upazila health complex.

The victim, Saidar Mia, is a resident of the Majider Para area of the upazila.

According to local sources, Saidar Mia was accidentally electrocuted more than a month ago. As he fell, he was cut by broken glass, suffering a deep wound to his left hand with glass pieces lodged inside. Local people then took him to the Chilmari Upazila Health Complex.

Saidar Mia alleged that after being taken to the hospital he was not admitted. He was told there was no bed or space available, given only primary treatment and a bandage, and sent home. Although pieces of glass remained inside his hand, the doctor made no arrangement to remove them, he said.

He then spent more than a month in pain. When his condition worsened, an X-ray revealed two pieces of glass inside his hand. He later had the pieces removed through surgery by another doctor.

Saidar Mia said: 'After being electrocuted and falling, I injured my hand on glass inside the house. Local people took me to the hospital. There I was given some treatment and sent home with the glass still inside my hand. A month later the pieces were removed through surgery.'

Expressing his anger, he said: 'Is treatment given here, or are people killed? No patient is treated properly. The hospital authorities must take responsibility for such negligence.'

Responding to the allegation, Dr Aminul Islam, the family planning officer of Chilmari Upazila Health Complex, said it had happened by mistake and that he was sorry. He added that he was looking into the matter.