The West Bengal government Thursday submitted a laboratory report before the Calcutta High Court stating there was no issue with the intravenous fluid given at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, where four new mothers were allegedly administered expired Ringer’s lactate solution on January 8.
The government had earlier suspended 12 doctors, flagging medical negligence for alleged expired saline administration which led to the death of a new mother and left three others in critical condition.
The division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, hearing the saline case, had sought a report from the state government. The state report said compensation had been paid to families affected by saline, and job opportunities had been provided to them.
During the hearing of the case, the Chief Justice asked the saline manufacturing company, “How did this happen?”. The company then submitted that it had gotten a clean chit from the central laboratory after sending the state’s saline for testing.
The saline manufacturing company further submitted that it has nothing more to do once the saline reaches the state. Then, the state has to follow some guidelines, it said.
Advocate General Kishore Dutta, on behalf of the state, submitted, “The state has also mentioned the same in the report. There was no problem with saline.”
The Chief Justice then asked the government, “Can you (state) not use your own saline? How much would it cost to build such an industry? Are there any pharmaceutical companies in the state?”
Advocate General Kishore Dutta informed the court that he will enquire and then inform the court in this matter.
The state government reported that on the night of the incident, no senior doctors were available at the hospital, and the resident medical officer (RMO) was also absent. The case has been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
At Midnapore Medical College, four new mothers were allegedly given expired Ringer’s lactate saline on January 8. The following day, Mamoni Rui Das’s health began to deteriorate, and she passed away on January 10. The other three—Mampi Singh, Nasreen Khatun, and Minara Bibi— were in critical condition. Singh, Khatun, and Minara were subsequently referred to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata after their conditions worsened.
Later, two Public Interest Litigations (PIL) were moved in the Chief Justice’s division bench against the use of Ringer’s lactate saline, demanding a CBI probe into the incident.
After the death of the woman, the government announced Rs five lakh compensation and a job for her family.
The investigation involves 12 doctors, including the medical superintendent and vice principal of Medinipur Medical College and Hospital, RMO, one assistant professor, head of the department, and six postgraduate trainee doctors. A CID probe has been initiated against all of them.