Patna doctors refusing to operate on hepatitis patients?

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Doctors at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) are allegedly refusing to treat hepatitis patients due to fears of infection, and have demanded insurance cover.

"In the last one month, six hepatitis patients have returned without surgery after doctors refused to operate on them," said a doctor of the surgery department on condition of anonymity.

According to doctors, three of six hepatitis patients were admitted to private hospitals where they were operated upon.

Doctors are demanding insurance cover and medicines in operation theatres for hepatitis patients.

"Unless PMCH authorities provide the two facilities, doctors will not operate on such patients," the doctor said.

Some doctors are demanding a special operation theatre for patients suffering from infectious diseases.

PMCH principal Amar Kant Jha said he has received information and complaints that some doctors have refused to operate on hepatitis patients.

"If any doctor refuses to operate on hepatitis patients, action would be initiated against him," Jha said.

He said six doctors and a few medical students have been found suffering from hepatitis and were given vaccines.

"We have decided to administer hepatitis vaccine to all PMCH officials," he said.

Meanwhile, a probe has been launched into the death of an HIV-positive man at the PMCH after he was allegedly refused treatment by some doctors, an official said.

This is not the first such case in PMCH. In September 2013, a 45-year-old HIV-positive woman died after doctors allegedly refused to operate on her.