Bengal Expired Saline Death Case: Calcutta HC to hear PILs on January 16

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court is set to hear two separate public interest litigations (PILs) on January 16 (Thursday) submitted before its division bench regarding the use of expired Ringer's Lactate (RL) saline which resulted in the death of a pregnant woman at Medinipur Medical College and Hospital and left three others in critical condition. 

One of the PILs has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged use of contaminated or expired intravenous fluid in the hospital. The petitioner prayed for the constitution of a special investigation team in this regard, reports PTI.

The division bench of Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya have admitted both petitions which are slated for their first hearing on January 16.  

Also read- Pregnant woman dies at Midnapore Hospital, kin alleges expired saline administered

It is reported that among the two PILs submitted before the bench, senior advocate of Calcutta High Court Phiroze Edulji has filed one of them. As per his petition, the same organisation- Paschal Bang Pharmaceutical Limited, whose saline administration resulted in deaths in Karnataka following which the state government blacklisted the entity for three years, the company continued to supply these in West Bengal.  

The petitioner further stated that the Karnataka government notified the West Bengal government over the issue, however, the petitioner stated that the supply of contaminated saline continued and did not come to light till a pregnant mother was given the said saline which resulted in her death, reports Live Law. 

It was stated that the State government had said the saline shall not be used in January 2025, but it continued to be used in RG Kar Medical College and hospital. Therefore, the petitioner seeks action against the defaulters.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that a 21-year-old woman passed away following childbirth at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal's Paschim Midnapore. Her family members raised serious concerns about the saline administered to her during treatment. The incident took place on Friday and sparked outrage and protests from the families of patients, as four more patients also fell ill due to the administration of the expired saline.

The four patients were under treatment at the same hospital. Three of them have been shifted to state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital in South Kolkata on Sunday night following sharp deterioration in their medical conditions. Following this, the state health department formed a 13-member inquiry committee to investigate how expired saline was administered to these patients.

Probe panel report indicates 'human error'

The preliminary report filed by an expert committee indicated that "human error" and side effects of "other medicines" led to the death of the mother and three others when fell ill after childbirth in the hospital.

In the report, the experts also hinted that the Ringer's Lactate (RL) on the Intravenous (IV) fluid allegedly administered to the four women could have a "little role" in deteriorating the health conditions of the five women, he added.

A copy of the initial report on the incident, that occurred in the state-run Medinipur Medical College and Hospital (MMCG) recently, was submitted to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Monday.

"Initial findings indicated human error. There were other lapses too that led to the mishap. The administration of the RL may have a little role in it. There seem to be some procedural faults in the administration of the Oxytocin injection to these patients," the source told PTI.

Oxytocin injection is generally used to improve contractions during labour pain besides reducing bleeding after childbirth. The report also stated that none of the seniors who were supposed to be on duty at that time at MMCH were present and those delivery cases were handled only by trainee medics.

"The RL of the same batch was administered on other patients as well, but only these four women fell ill. So, contamination from that fluid could be ruled out. However, we are waiting for the final report from the drug control unit," he said.

Meanwhile, the state health department on Saturday directed all the state medical colleges and hospitals across the state to ban the use of 10 intravenous fluids to ensure patient safety after the incident came to light on Friday. The banned fluids include Ringer Lactate, Ringer Solution, dextrose injection, ofloxacin, and sodium chloride irrigation solution among others, TOI reports. 

This incident has revived concerns over similar cases in the state’s healthcare system. Notably, in a recent case of financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, its former principal, Sandip Ghosh, was accused of encouraging the use of expired and ineffective drugs on patients for personal financial gains.

Also read- Newborn dies from organ failure post-delivery, couple alleges medical negligence