Maternal deaths: Raj govt suspends 2 including drug inspector

Both Taneja and Acharya were accused by the Administration of dereliction of their respective duties byallowing the spurious IV fluids to reach the governmenthospitals.

A case has already registered under section 328 of IPC(causing hurt by means of poison with intent to commit anoffence), against Parental Surgical India Private Limited, andthe Jodhpur distributor, for allegedly supplying contaminatedI V fluid that is believed to be the cause behind the deaths.

In addition to the administrative inquiry into the issueby the Divisional Commissioner of Jodhpur, a parallel inquiryhas also been ordered to ascertain who is responsible forgiving the nod to the drug from an unlisted company. Both theinquiries commenced today.

Gehlot also held a meeting with the doctors andadministrative officers in Jodhpur and assured patients of allassistance.

Two committes which were probing the incident havesubmitted their reports. The six-member panel of SMMedical College had blamed contaminated IV fluid for thedeaths while the two-member government committee has suggesteda slew of measures for the hospitals amid fears that aninfection could also have led to the deaths.

A team of two doctors from Jaipur also reached Jodhpurtoday and checked the four patients, who are admitted in theICUs of Umaid and MG Hospitals. Out of 4 patients in thehospitals, 2 are still in a serious condition.

A four-member police team led by a sub-inspector is alsoin Indore to quiz officials of Parental Surgical India PrivateLimited and carry out futher investigations. The company wasraided on Friday.

Umaid hospital Superintendent Narendra Changani hadsaid that the administration has registered a complaintagainst the manufacturing company and the local distributorAnshul Pharam, who supplied the contaminated stock of the I Vfluid.

Investigating officer Dhagla Ram had said close to10,000 bottles of the IV fluid have so far been seized and areport of FSL (Forensic Scientific Laboratory) is awaited.

"As a precaution, we have kept the main operationtheatre and labour room closed for fumigation," said principalof the S N Medical College R K Aseri.