Woman Dies After Being Administered ‘Infected’ Saline Syringe In SCB, Minister Orders Probe

Cuttack: Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das on Wednesday directed the superintendent of the SCB Medical College and Hospital here to probe into the death of a woman patient, who allegedly died after being administered an infected saline syringe.

“I have asked the SCB superintendent to submit the probe report within three days. On the basis of the report, stern action would be taken against the guilty,” the minister told the media.

According to a complaint lodged by Sagarika Sahu, the daughter of the deceased at Mangalabag police station, her mother Sabitri Sahu of Badachana area in Jajpur was admitted to the urology ward on January 11. However, her condition deteriorated after she was administered saline through an infected saline syringe recently. Later, the doctors cleaned up the infected portion of the hand and applied a bandage.  “After 15 days, I noticed the worms around the bandage area and immediately informed the doctors. But there was no action,” she said.

Talking to mediapersons, Krushna Chandra Sahu, son of the deceased, said: “After I noticed worms in the infected area of my mother’s hand, I had a sent a message to the Mo Sarkar for immediate help. But I was shocked when the reception in-charge told me to admit my mother to a private nursing home if the doctors at the SCB are not attending to her.”

The hospital authorities were not available for comment.