Bengal Health Dept issues show-cause notices to 5 doctors over expired saline given to heart patient
Synopsis
For the second time at the same hospital, expired saline has been administered to a patient — this time a cardiac case. West Bengal's health department moved fast, but the repeat incident at Midnapore Medical College points to a deeper systemic failure in drug storage and verification that a show-cause notice alone cannot fix.
Key Takeaways
The West Bengal Health Department issued show-cause notices to five Medical Officers at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital on 11 July .
The officers include the additional superintendent , assistant superintendent , store in-charge , sister-in-charge , and a lady nursing officer .
Patient Mansi Dey , a senior citizen admitted on 5 July for a cardiac attack, was administered saline that had expired in March 2025 .
Her son reported she began experiencing a burning sensation in her chest from the afternoon of 5 July .
A similar expired-saline incident at the same hospital was reported in 2025 , involving lactating mothers.
The West Bengal Health Department on Saturday, 11 July issued show-cause notices to five Medical Officers at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital in West Midnapore district, holding them responsible for gross negligence after expired saline was administered to a serious cardiac patient. The action follows an internal inquiry ordered by the state health department after the incident came to light.
What Happened
Mansi Dey, a senior citizen and resident of Vidyasagar Pally in Midnapore town, was admitted to the hospital on the morning of 5 July following a cardiac episode. She was placed under observation and administered saline as part of her treatment.
According to her son, who was present at the hospital, Dey began complaining of a burning sensation in her chest from the afternoon of 5 July. It subsequently came to the attention of medical staff that the saline she had been given had expired in March 2025.
Who Was Served Notices
According to an insider from the state health department, the five officers served show-cause notices include the additional superintendent, assistant superintendent, store in-charge, sister-in-charge, and a lady nursing officer — all attached to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital.
The Department's Response
Upon being informed of the incident, the state health department acted swiftly, dispatching a team of five Medical Officers to the hospital on the same evening. The team held discussions with the hospital's superintendent and principal and conducted a detailed on-site inquiry. Their findings were submitted to the department, which subsequently concluded that gross negligence of duty had occurred and issued the notices.
A Troubling Pattern
Notably, this is not the first time Midnapore Medical College and Hospital has been embroiled in an expired-saline controversy. A similar incident reportedly surfaced in 2025, when the hospital was accused of administering expired saline to lactating mothers. That episode occurred under the then-prevailing state administration.
The recurrence of such an incident at the same institution raises questions about systemic lapses in drug procurement, storage, and verification protocols — irrespective of which government is in power. The current West Bengal Health Department has indicated that it is treating the matter with urgency, though the outcome of the show-cause process and any further disciplinary action remain to be seen.
Point of View
But they do not address the structural question: how does saline expired since March remain in active clinical use four months later? Midnapore Medical College has now been at the centre of an identical controversy twice, which suggests the problem is not individual carelessness but a broken procurement and expiry-check system. Disciplinary action against named officers is visible accountability; fixing the inventory and verification chain is the accountability that actually protects patients. The health department's swift inquiry is commendable, but without a published corrective protocol, the next incident is a matter of when, not if.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did West Bengal issue show-cause notices to doctors at Midnapore Medical College?
The West Bengal Health Department issued show-cause notices to five Medical Officers after it was found that expired saline — with a March 2025 expiry date — was administered to a cardiac patient, Mansi Dey, on 5 July. The department concluded that gross negligence of duty had occurred following an internal inquiry.
Who are the five Medical Officers served with show-cause notices?
According to sources within the state health department, the five officers include the additional superintendent, assistant superintendent, store in-charge, sister-in-charge, and a lady nursing officer, all attached to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital.
What happened to the patient who received the expired saline?
Mansi Dey, a senior citizen admitted for a cardiac attack on 5 July, began complaining of a burning sensation in her chest from that afternoon. The expired saline was identified after her son raised a complaint with hospital staff.
Has Midnapore Medical College faced a similar controversy before?
Yes. A comparable incident reportedly occurred in 2025, when the same hospital was accused of administering expired saline to lactating mothers. The recurrence at the same institution has raised concerns about systemic lapses in drug storage and verification.
What action did the West Bengal Health Department take after the incident?
The department immediately dispatched a five-member team to Midnapore Medical College on the evening of 5 July. After a meeting with the hospital's superintendent and principal and a detailed inquiry, the team submitted a report that led to show-cause notices being issued to five officers.
