In Kalimpong Hospital Patient dies after injection

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT,  Darjeeling: One person has died and 11 people have developed allergic reaction after being injected with antibiotics at Kalimpong district hospital.

The 12 patients admitted to the male medical ward were administered Ceftriaxone injections on Tuesday. Soon, the patients started complaining of various symptoms of allergic reaction. Most of them had been admitted to the hospital for fever and dysentery.

Biru Tamang, 37, a resident of Kirney busty in Kalimpong, was shifted to high dependency unit (HDU) immediately. Tamang, however, died on Wednesday morning.

Nirupam Biswas, chief medical officer of health, Kalimpong, said a proper inquiry was needed.

"The same medicines were being used for the past five seven days. Even yesterday (Tuesday), the medicine was administered to patients in the female medical ward and the female surgical ward. Only those admitted to the male medical ward needed urgent treatment. We are astonished and we need a proper investigation," said Biswas.

The CMOH said he had already written to the state government seeking the probe. Sources said a team from the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri was likely to conduct an inquiry.

Biswas said a blood test conducted on Tamang two days back had indicated that he had liver jaundice and his kidney was also affected.

However, Tamang's wife, Dhan Maya Chhetri, blamed the death on the medicines.

"If he had liver jaundice and kidney problems, they (doctors) should have told us earlier. We came to know about the problem only when he was shifted to the HDU," said Chhetri.

Another relative said before the injection had been administered, Tamang had been fine. "He was smiling and talking and I even fed him a bowl of rice. However, soon after the injection, he started shivering and I instantly knew that something was wrong," the relative added.

The family members have demanded financial compensation and a job for the next of kin of the deceased man. Biswas said he would try to meet the twin demands.