‘High oxytocin doses one of the reasons for mom death’

‘High oxytocin doses one of the reasons for mom death’

 Three Still In Critical Condition

 Sarthak Ganguly & Sujoy Khanra 

TNN  15.01.2025

Kolkata/Midnapore : A five-and-a-half-page report submitted to the health department by the 13- member probe committee, formed to investigate the death of a woman at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital following a C-section delivery, indicated that high doses of oxytocin were administered to five patients without following any protocol. 

While 22-year-old Mamoni Ruidas died after a C-section on Jan 8, the condition of three others — Nasrin Khatun, Mampi Singh and Minara Bibi — who underwent C-section deliveries on the same day at the hospital, was stated to be serious. They were shifted to SSKM in critical condition. The fourth mother, Rekha Sau, was in stable condition at Midnapore hospital and was supposed to be discharged on Tuesday. However, her condition worsened in the afternoon, and her blood sample was collected for testing, according to her husband Santosh Sau. 

According to a health department official, the patients’ blood was not clotting properly due to infection, and their lungs and kidneys were not functioning well. Nasrin Khatun and Mampi Singh are on ventilation. The report allegedly states that instead of the prescribed 10 units, 15 to 25 units were administered, causing a rapid drop in the patients' blood pressure. 

Oxytocin is used to prevent excessive bleeding. "It appears that the women were given excessive doses of oxytocin, which worsened their conditions," sources said. Additionally, the report mentions that an RMO was on duty in the maternity department's OT at Medinipur Medical College that night. Being the senior doctor, he was expected to perform the surgeries. It is believed he was not present there. The matter will be further investigated. 

Meanwhile, it was observed that family members were being given small notes to buy medicines from outside, which they brought to the hospital. Hospital sources stated that the use of bupivacaine, ranitidine, ceftriaxone, ondansetron, metoclopramide, fentanyl citrate, oxytocin and regallacted injections has been halted. Hospital superintendent Jayanta Raut stated that some injections and RL had been temporarily suspended, and alternatives were being provided. 

On Jan 2, when placing an online order for medicines, 'Ringer's Lactate' was found to be blocked, so it was not purchased from outside but was brought from the Tamluk Hospital stock in East Medinipur. However, it is unclear how the saline that was supposed to be set aside came up at the medical college. A senior health department official said, “Everything is being thoroughly investigated.” 

Saline supplier blacklisted The state Directorate of Health Services Central Medical Stores (CMS) has issued a notice on Tuesday, informing the MSVPs of medical college and hospitals as well as chief medical officer health of districts that all the items, including Ringer’s Lactate (RL) solutions, procured through state management information system (SMIS) from Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals, should not be used. The notice also stated that “all existing stock of the items supplied by Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd should be withdrawn from wards/hospitals until further orders, if not done already.” However, the notice stated that 'paracetamol infusion and sodium chloride injection may be procured from Pharma Impex laboratories Pvt Ltd through SMIS and other items can be procured as NON CAT (drugs which are not available in the catalog of the supplier) as per the existing policies.” TNN