West Bengal Saline Incident: Expert Report Examines Effects of Injected Solutions
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Synopsis
In West Bengal, the government asserts that doctor negligence caused the recent deaths of a mother and her newborn at a state hospital. However, an expert committee has not excluded the potential adverse effects of administering essential fluids like Ringers’ Lactate and oxytocin, prompting further investigations.
Key Takeaways
- Expert committee investigates saline administration.
- Ringers’ Lactate and oxytocin linked to adverse effects.
- Two investigations are underway, including a CID probe.
- Chief Minister attributes deaths to doctor negligence.
- 12 doctors suspended following the incident.
Kolkata, Jan 21 (NationPress) While the West Bengal government maintains that doctor negligence caused the deaths of a woman and her newborn at a state-operated hospital in West Midnapore earlier this month, an expert panel from the state health department has not dismissed the potential negative effects of administering essential fluids such as Ringers’ Lactate and oxytocin in these incidents.
Currently, there are two ongoing investigations: one led by the expert committee of the state health department and another by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police.
Insiders report that the expert committee's findings have not excluded the possibility that the administration of Ringers’ Lactate and oxytocin may have contributed to the incidents. The committee has also sent samples of these liquids for more detailed clinical testing.
Moreover, the committee has recommended that until the results of this analysis are available, it would be prudent to refrain from using clinical liquids from the same batch.
Earlier this month, five women fell ill at the state-run hospital in West Midnapore after allegedly receiving expired Ringers’ Lactate.
One of these women, Mamoni Ruidas, passed away, followed by the newborn of another affected woman, Rekha Shaw. This incident sparked widespread outrage after allegations emerged regarding the distribution of expired Ringers’ Lactate from Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, a company previously blacklisted by the Karnataka government and later by the West Bengal government.
In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared at a press conference that the primary cause of the tragedy was doctor negligence, resulting in the suspension of 12 medical professionals, including six senior and six junior doctors, among them the medical superintendent-cum-vice principal (MSVP) and the resident medical officer (RMO) of the hospital.
Junior doctors at the facility are currently engaged in a partial work stoppage; however, this has not disrupted medical services, as normal operations continue in both the emergency department and the out-patient department (OPD).
