2014 vaccine negligence: 16 patients given expired Hepatitis-B shots in Telangana; SHRC seeks action
Telangana
State Human Rights Commission (TSHRC) has directed Gandhi Hospital to initiate action against a doctor for "administering expired Hepatitis-B vaccines to 16 patients" back in 2014.
The incident occurred when complainants were admitted to the hospital's Anti-Retroviral Therapy unit for treatment.
In their complaint to the SHRC, the aggrieved patients alleged that medical practitoner Dr V Tara Devi had "deliberately administered expired Hepatitis-B vaccines to them". Post vaccination, they experienced dizziness, stomach pain, body aches, and mental stress.
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Even as hospital mainatained that no harm was caused due to vaccine and that the doctor was relieved from duty, the commission observed that the act amounted to gross negligence. They asked the govt to pay compensation of 1.25 lakh and initiate disciplinary proceedings against the doctor.
The SRHC held the manufacturer and dealer accountable for not providing proper warning labels on packaging and supplying vaccine without checking the expiry date.
The state govt is yet to respond to SHRC's order.
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