Jodhpur hospital kills another, toll at 18

Authorities in Jodhpur seemed to be at a complete loss to prevent their patients from dying as another woman lost her life after allegedly being administered infected intravenous fluid, bringing the toll to 18, media reports said.

Sagar Kanwar, a woman who was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after giving birth to her baby three weeks ago, breathed her last in the Umaid Hospital in Jodhpur, reported NDTV news channel.

At least 13 women had died after childbirth at the hospital in the last fortnight of February. Two more women, who were shifted to MG Hospital in a critical state, have also succumbed, taking the total number of casualties to 18 with the latest casualty.

Five of the babies delivered by the effected women were stillborn, while another was premature.

The central and state governments have instituted several inquiries into the deaths.

The deaths had been caused by profuse bleeding allegedly due to administration of contaminated drip that led to serious post-delivery complications.

The state government has ordered suspension of drug inspector Dinesh Taneja and an employee of the Umaid Hospital on Feb 27.

It had also announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, besides blacklisting two pharmaceutical and surgical equipment firms.

Criminal cases have been registered under the IPC Section 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) against Indore-based Parental Surgical India Private Limited and its local distributor for allegedly supplying contaminated IV fluid.