The West Bengal government has suspended 12 medical professionals at Medinipur Medical College and Hospital following a fatal incident involving substandard saline. The incident resulted in the death of one mother and the serious illness of several others, all of whom had recently given birth. Five mothers were affected, one of whom died, while the others were transferred to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata in critical condition. Another mother's condition was reported as stable, but her newborn passed away. The cause of these complications has been traced to the administration of substandard saline.
The suspended personnel include RMO Soumen Das, doctors Dilip Pal, Himadri Nayek, Mohammad Alauddin, and MSVP Jayant Raut. Also suspended were anesthesiologists Pallabi Banerjee, Bhagyashree Kundu, first-year PG doctors Moumita Mondal, Puja Saha, and interns Sushanta Mondal and others who were involved in the treatment of these patients. The suspension follows an investigation that highlighted severe lapses in medical protocols during the incident.
The CID has been tasked with investigating the incident to determine criminal liability. The probe focuses on the quality of the saline used, the actions of the medical staff, and whether negligence or malpractice occurred. The affected mothers had received saline which was suspected to be of low quality. Reports from the investigation have suggested that the saline, which was given to the patients, did not meet required medical standards, contributing to the complications faced by the mothers.
Further investigation revealed that on the day of the incident, Dr. Dilip Pal was performing surgery outside of the hospital, despite being scheduled to be on duty at Medinipur Medical College. The state government has taken a firm stance against the practice of medical professionals working in both government and private hospitals simultaneously. In a statement, the Chief Minister clarified that doctors cannot hold dual employment in both sectors, especially during critical medical situations.
Following the incident, the state government has implemented new regulations aimed at ensuring accountability in medical facilities. These include a directive requiring that senior doctors or department heads must be present during critical cases and that nursing staff must accompany them. Additionally, the Chief Minister announced that CCTV cameras will be installed in all operation theatres (OTs) at government hospitals. These cameras will monitor the entry and exit of personnel, as well as the duration of time spent in OTs, to ensure proper oversight.
The West Bengal government has also promised financial support to the family of the deceased mother. In addition, the government has offered employment opportunities to any family members of the deceased if they wish to take up a job. The CID investigation is ongoing, and further legal actions will be considered based on the findings of the probe, including criminal cases against those deemed responsible. The government has also instructed that similar incidents must be prevented in the future through strict adherence to medical standards and procedures.