Times of India
14 March 2011
By Ajay Parmar
Jodhpur, India

Deaths caused by suspected contaminated intravenous fluid in Jodhpur hospitals continue with an alarming pattern: another woman with a premature caesarean delivery died at MG Hospital on Sunday, raising the toll to 16 in over a month.

Angry family members of Prem Kanwar (30) took her body only after assurances from Umaid Hospital that they would consider their demand for treating the death as caused by IV contamination. The hospital has reported the case to the district administration.

Prem Kanwar had a premature caesarean delivery at Umaid Hospital but the baby could not be saved. Her condition worsened and her uterus was removed following uncontrolled bleeding.

She was shifted to MG Hospital’s intensive care unit, where she died. Umaid and MG hospitals are attached to Jodhpur Medical College and Hospital.

"She had been on ventilator since February 18," said Arvind Mathur, superintendent, MG Hospital.
There have been 16 such deaths of women since the first week of last month, blamed on contaminated IV fluid. One more pregnant woman, Sagar Kanwar, is battling for her life in MG Hospital’s ICU. A shaken state government has sent samples of suspected fluid to Central Drug Laboratory, Kolkata. Its report is expected in two days. The government has ordered another probe involving doctors from PGIMER, Chandigarh. MATERNAL DEATHS

Three inquiries have been completed
Jodhpur: The government has ordered another inquiry, now involving doctors from the PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Three inquiries have already been completed into the deaths, while an administrative inquiry is still on.
Questions are being raised on the significance of the latest PGIMER inquiry as a lot has changed at the hospital since the deaths.

The other inquiries have attributed the deaths to fluid contamination and pre–existing lacunae at the hospital.
Among 16 women, three had delivered stillborns taking the total death toll to 19 allegedly due to contaminated glucose administered to these women. These deaths have followed a pattern: after the IV fluid was administered, the women started bleeding profusely leading to multi–organ failures and death.

Recently, a committee from the Union health ministry and an ex–HOD of gynaecology from Safdarjung Hospital (Delhi) had submitted a report that suggested the doctors administering the IV fluid were neither trained nor did they follow protocols. "They were junior doctors who weren't taught how these fluids needed to be administered," said the report.

Another committee of two doctors from Jaipur pointed out pathetic hygienic conditions at Umed Hospital's operation theatre and the labour room. One representative of the IV fluid supplying company is already in judicial custody.