The Calcutta High Court has ordered the West Bengal chief secretary and the central government to submit detailed reports concerning the death of a woman at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, allegedly linked to the administration of contaminated intravenous fluid. The court’s decision came during a hearing of two public interest litigations (PILs) that call for a CBI investigation into the incident.
Presided over by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, the bench emphasized the urgent need for a thorough examination of the circumstances that led to the patient’s death shortly after childbirth on January 9. The state’s chief secretary and the appropriate central government authority have been instructed to file their reports by January 30.
The court also directed the pharmaceutical company responsible for supplying the drugs to respond with affidavits. Moreover, it stressed the need for the state to provide adequate compensation to the family of the deceased, acknowledging the irreparable loss suffered due to the alleged medical oversight.
During the hearing, it was revealed that despite a December 10 order from the Drug Controller of West Bengal, which suspended the manufacturing activities of the involved pharmaceutical company, the Health department failed to take immediate action. This delay allowed the continued use of the questionable IV fluids, which were only withdrawn from medical facilities on January 14 by the Directorate of Health Services.
Senior Advocate Kishore Dutta, representing the state, informed the court that a 13-member committee had been formed to investigate the matter and had already submitted its report. He also noted that the state CID had taken over the investigation from local police, ensuring a more focused inquiry into the alleged medical negligence.
The deputy solicitor general, representing the Union of India, confirmed that the central government had taken decisive actions, including sealing the factory and issuing notices to the pharmaceutical company. The counsel for the petitioners argued for transparency regarding the patients who received the IV fluids from the implicated batch, citing potential long-term health effects.
In an emotional plea, one of the petitioners requested the formation of a special investigation team and proposed transferring the probe to the CBI to guarantee impartiality and transparency in the investigation process. This suggestion comes amid growing concerns over the administration of potentially expired or contaminated intravenous fluids, which not only resulted in a fatality but also left four other women in critical condition.
