KOLKATA/MIDNAPORE: The preliminary report on the death of a young mother at Midnapore Medical College & Hospital (MMCH), following a C-section delivery, points towards human error rather than Ringer’s Lactate (RL), although the role of the IV fluid is also under investigation. The condition of three other women remains critical. The govt has also ordered a parallel probe by the state CID into the incident. On Monday, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met a team of 10 senior doctors from various disciplines to review the preliminary report, where she stated there will be no tolerance for any negligence or lapse. The govt said action will be taken against those found guilty.
Five women who delivered via C-section in a particular unit of MMCH between Jan 8 and 9 developed complications, leading to the death of one. Following this, various quarters blamed RL by a banned manufacturer as the cause. The 13-member committee set up by the state to probe the incident submitted its preliminary findings on Monday.
“The primary report suggests lapses on the part of the medical unit on duty during that period. We are waiting for the detailed report where the committee will probe all possible angles, including human error, drug reaction, surgical complication, procedural lapses, and any other lapse. Strict action will be taken against whoever is guilty,” said state chief secretary Manoj Pant.
The primary report said the five C-sections were done by postgraduate trainee doctors who were also responsible for post-surgerycare. “We have a guideline wh-ere trainee doctors must work under supervision of senior doctors. We have seen a violation of the SoP here,” said Pant.
The state has ordered a probe by CID. Pant said this, along with the administrative enquiry report, will help the govt fix accountability.
Pant said samples of all drugs used on the mothers, including the RL, have been sent for testing, and all hospitals have been instructed to substitute this product. “Earlier, we gave instructions debarring this RL and another directive on Jan 7. We have sent all RL stocks of of all batches for testing,” said Pant.
Sources said that the debarred RL was being used in some hospitals, and no such death or complication have happened. The govt gave no clear answer as to why the banned product was still being used before this incident.
The probe committee has been asked to submit a detailed report in three days, while the drug test reports will take at least two weeks. The committee will also probe the allegations that families of the five women were asked to sign an undertaking after they were administered the RL.
The condition of the three who were shifted to SSKM on Sunday is critical. “We added doctors from four specialities, making the medical board a nine-member team advising the treatment of the three,” said an SSKM official.
