One dead, 10 ill after suspected toxic injection at Sagore Dutta Hospital, echoes Medinipur case

A 35-year-old woman died and ten others fell seriously ill after receiving an antibiotic injection following cesarean deliveries at Sagore Dutta Medical College and Hospital in Kamarhati. The incident has led to concerns over possible contamination of the injected medicine, prompting investigations and a recall of the entire batch.

According to hospital sources, several women underwent cesarean sections on Sunday and Monday. All were administered an antibiotic injection identified as Amikacin. By Monday and Tuesday, 11 women developed serious complications. Pampa Sarkar, a resident of Nimta, was admitted to the ICU on Tuesday due to critical symptoms and died the same night.

The hospital administration has withdrawn the entire batch of Amikacin used on the affected patients. A seven-member internal committee has been formed under the supervision of hospital superintendent Dr. Sujoy Mistri to investigate the matter. The Health Education Department has also launched a separate inquiry. Special Secretary Aniruddha Niyogi visited the hospital on Tuesday night and announced the formation of a five-member expert committee comprising specialists from different medical colleges.

A senior hospital doctor confirmed that Sarkar developed symptoms such as breathlessness, sepsis, and multi-organ failure within two days of the operation. While no post-mortem was conducted—since the family did not request one—health officials have stated that the death was not considered unusual as per protocol. The body was handed over to the family under existing hospital rules.

Doctor associations have responded by demanding a judicial probe. Service Doctors Forum General Secretary Sajal Biswas stated that the incident resembled the Medinipur Medical College case, where contaminated Ringer’s saline had led to the death of one woman and serious illness in four others. Medical Service Centre’s state secretary Biplab Chandra held the health department accountable and warned of statewide protests if blame was shifted onto doctors or healthcare workers.