JOTHPUR:
It took 10 days and the death of 12 full-term pregnant women in Jodhpur in Rajasthan before state health authorities woke up to suspect that all might have died after being administered “infected” intravenous “dextrose and ringer lactose” fluids. Five pregnant women are in a “serious condition,” doctors said.
Two foetuses have died in utero (before being born) while the other 10 survived — and these infants are said to be out of danger.
Following confirmation of lab reports in the Women and Child Wing of the state government Umaid Hospital — the largest in the city — that several batches of IV fluids manufactured by the same company were tainted, health officials have recalled all batches of these fluids, lodged an FIR against the manufacturer and issued a statewide alert against its use.
A 3-member panel of doctors has been constituted to probe the deaths.
