The Calcutta High Court ordered compensation for the death of a pregnant woman who died after receiving contaminated saline. The court stated that the saline was responsible for her tragic death. The state government has now handed over the investigation to the CID to look into the matter. The court’s decision emphasizes accountability and justice for the victim’s family.
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has ordered the West Bengal government to compensate the family of a pregnant woman who died after allegedly receiving contaminated saline at a government hospital.
Additionally, four other pregnant women are reportedly in intensive care after being given the same solution. These remarks were made by a division bench consisting of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, who were reviewing a public interest litigation that called for an investigation into the death of the pregnant woman linked to the alleged contaminated saline.
Counsel for the petitioners noted that on March 22, 2024, the Karnataka government identified a company for supplying contaminated saline and subsequently banned it for three years, informing the West Bengal government of this action. Despite this notification, the contaminated saline continued to be supplied and only came to light after it was administered to a pregnant woman, resulting in tragic consequences.
The Advocate General informed the court that all bottles of the solution were being tested at an independent facility.
However, there were three batches that could potentially be contaminated, and efforts were underway to identify the specific bottles. It was mentioned that the saline had been widely used across India, and this unfortunate incident occurred in West Bengal.
Additionally, it was stated that the CID was investigating the matter in accordance with the Lalita Kumari guidelines concerning medical negligence.
As a result, the court directed the state to compensate the victim’s family and requested a detailed report from the health department outlining the timeline of events and the names of individuals who received the solution.
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A Public Interest Litigation (PIL), On January 16, filed concerning the alleged administration of expired saline at a government hospital in Midnapore, West Bengal. This incident has left three pregnant women in critical condition and resulted in the death of 21-year-old Mamoni Rui Das last week. The PIL calls for a CBI investigation into the matter.
The family members of the deceased, Mamoni Rui Das, have lodged a police complaint accusing the hospital authorities of causing her death due to negligence. The complaint adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation.
The Calcutta High Court, after hearing the case, ordered the state government to provide compensation to the family. The court also directed the state to hand over the investigation to the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) for further inquiry into the cause of the contamination and any potential negligence.
The incident has sparked significant outrage among opposition parties, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and the Left Front staging protests in Midnapore.
They have called for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from her role as the state’s health minister, accusing her of failing to ensure the safety of medical supplies in state-run hospitals. Adhikari has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the alleged negligence by the state health department.