How Did Expired Saline Reach A Patient? Five Officials Face Notices

The West Bengal Health Department on Saturday issued show-cause notices to five Medical Officers at Midnapore Medical College & Hospital. The action followed allegations that they administered expired saline to a critically ill heart patient.

According to Health Department sources, the authorities served notices to the additional superintendent and assistant superintendent. They also issued notices to the store in-charge, sister-in-charge and a lady nursing officer attached to the hospital.

The patient, Mansi Dey, a senior citizen from Vidyasagar Pally in Midnapore town, was admitted to the hospital on the morning of July 5 after suffering a cardiac attack.

Doctors kept her under observation and administered intravenous saline as part of her treatment. Her son later alleged that she began experiencing a burning sensation in her chest on the afternoon of July 5.

Hospital staff subsequently discovered that the saline administered to her had expired in March this year.

After receiving the information, the state Health Department immediately dispatched a five-member team of Medical Officers to the hospital the same evening.

The team met the hospital’s superintendent and principal before conducting a detailed inquiry into the incident. It later submitted its findings to the department.

Based on the inquiry report, the Health Department concluded that the five Medical Officers were guilty of gross negligence in performing their duties and issued show-cause notices against them.

A similar controversy had emerged at the same hospital in 2025 after expired saline was allegedly administered to lactating mothers during the Mamata Banerjee government.

The latest incident has now surfaced under the Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari-led government, prompting swift departmental action.

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