Kolkata: A doctor accused in the saline controversy from West Midnapore approached Calcutta High Court, seeking protection.
The doctor, Pallavi Chatterjee, is one of the 12 doctors at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital who were on Jan 16 suspended following the death of a new mother. The condition of four other women, who also gave birth there the same day, turned critical. The authorities suspended the doctors on the grounds of medical negligence, based on a report by CID and a state-instituted expert team.
Chatterjee claimed CID filed charges hastily and attempted to scapegoat the doctors working there. She moved the bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, alleging police were trying to frame the doctors. The matter is likely to be heard on Monday.
In a separate development, the CID is writing to Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals to get answers about their product, the Ringer's lactate, which was administered on the new mothers. According to several officials, the use of Ringer's lactate was not officially restricted, even after the Karnataka govt banned RL manufactured by the North Dinajpur-based company.
On Dec 10, 2024, the Bengal govt ordered Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals to stop production following a raid on its factory by a team from Bengal, along with drug control officials from Karnataka and Delhi. CID has sought details on the batch numbers supplied to Bengal. "Once we get the results, we might think of recording their statement," said an officer.