The West Bengal Health Department has issued show-cause notices to five Medical Officers at the Midnapore Medical College & Hospital in West Midnapore district. This action was taken due to medical negligence following the administration of expired saline to a serious heart patient. The individuals receiving notices include the additional superintendent, assistant superintendent, store in-charge sister-in-charge, and a lady nursing officer at the hospital.
Mansi Dey, a senior citizen from Vidyasagar Pally area in Midnapore town, was admitted to the hospital on July 5 morning after being diagnosed with a cardiac attack. She was under observation and received saline treatment. However, on the afternoon of July 5, her son reported that she started experiencing burning sensations in her chest. It was later discovered that the saline administered to her had expired in March of the same year.
Upon receiving this information, the state health department promptly dispatched a team of five Medical Officers to the hospital on the same evening. Following a detailed investigation conducted by the team, a report was submitted to the health department. Based on the findings of the report, the department concluded that the five Medical Officers were guilty of gross negligence in their duties and consequently issued show-cause notices to them.
This incident is reminiscent of a previous controversy at the same hospital in 2025, during the Mamata Banerjee regime, where expired saline was administered to lactating mothers. The recurrence of a similar issue under the current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari-led government has led to swift action by the state health department.
