Blood cancer patient boy’s foot gnawed by rat, dies; report sought

Jaipur: Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar instructed officials to conduct an inquiry into an incident at the State Cancer Institute (SCI) in Jaipur, where the toe of a child undergoing cancer treatment was allegedly nibbled by rats.

The Secretary of Medical Education has been instructed to conduct the probe into the matter. In response to the incident, Dr Deepak Maheshwari, Principal of SMS Medical College, visited the SCI to gather information from the hospital administration regarding the cleanliness and sanitation practices

The probe comes after a 10-year-old boy, Ansh, who was suffering from blood cancer, tragically died during treatment. His family discovered the injury after hearing him cry, finding that his foot was bleeding.

Upon informing the nursing staff, the staff reportedly only applied a bandage without further intervention. The child’s condition worsened, and despite all efforts, he could not be saved. Dr Sandeep Jasuja, Superintendent of the State Cancer Institute, said that the boy’s condition was critical, despite attempts, he could not be saved.