More than a month after 12 doctors, including six post-graduate trainees, of Midnapore Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) were suspended over the death of a woman allegedly after being administered expired saline, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday revoked the suspension order.
Making the announcement at a meeting of doctors in Kolkata, the chief minister said: “What happened in Medinipur was unfortunate. Actions were taken and junior doctors were suspended. I think senior doctors shouldn’t have left things on them (juniors). I understand that they were not fully ready. I withdraw the suspension of junior doctors in the medical college saline case.”
The condition of four new mothers at MMCH began to deteriorate on January 8 after they were allegedly given expired Ringer’s lactate saline. One Mamoni Rui Das died two days later, while the three others were shifted to Kolkata’s SSKM hospital.
Following the outrage over the incident, the chief minister, who also heads the state Health Department, ordered the suspension of the junior doctors on January 16. She had also threatened to press criminal charges against those suspended doctors.
The government has been rejecting the charge of expired saline. A probe by a 13-member expert committee concluded that there was “serious negligence” on the part of the staff on duty. The government also ordered an inquiry by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), leading to the FIR against the 12 doctors for culpable homicide, endangering human life, and disobeying law. While no one has been arrested, the matter is pending in the Calcutta High Court.
Speaking at the doctor’s union meeting on Monday, the chief minister said: “It is important to remember that these junior doctors are our future healthcare professionals, and mistakes, though unfortunate, should not completely define their career. We must ensure that we guide them toward becoming competent doctors.”
Stating that the suspension order has been revoked on “compassionate grounds”, the chief minister said the incident would be a learning experience for junior doctors.
She also reiterated that the state government would continue to prioritize the well-being of patients, while also supporting the growth and development of medical professionals in the state. The chief minister also directed the medical superintendents of government hospitals to maintain proper stock of medicines with regular checks every three months to ensure that expired medicines, including saline, are disposed of.
Last week in the Assembly, the chief minister while speaking on the issue had said that the Ringer’s lactate solution used at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital met all prescribed quality standards. “The Ringer’s lactate solution used in Midnapore MCH was tested in the State Drug Control and Research Laboratory. According to those tests, there was no problem with its quality,” the CM had said.