Medical body questions arrest of doctor who prescribed cough syrup linked with children deaths
PTC News Desk: The Indian Medical Association has questioned the government's decision to give a clean chit to the pharmaceutical and arrest of Dr Praveen Soni, the physician who prescribed the cough syrup linked to the deaths of 16 children in Madhya Pradesh.
The IMA has questioned that why only Dr. Soni is being held accountable for the deaths stressing that the treatment protocols were followed and that the blame should not rest entirely on the doctor. The association is determined to push for Dr Soni’s release.
Meanwhile, a fact-finding team has been sent to Chhindwara and is on its way to meet local officials to assess the situation, sources said.
In Madhya Pradesh, 14 deaths have been confirmed in Chhindwara district, while two suspected fatalities were reported from Betul. The incident has triggered widespread outrage and prompted authorities to launch a crackdown on those linked to the manufacture and prescription of the tainted Coldrif cough syrup.
Police arrested Dr. Soni on Saturday after filing an FIR against him and the operators of Sresun Pharmaceuticals, the company that produced Coldrif. The case was registered under various provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following a complaint from Ankit Sahlam, the Block Medical Officer of Parasia Community Health Centre. Acting on Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s orders, Dr. Soni — a paediatrician posted in Parasia, Chhindwara — was suspended for alleged negligence in treating the affected children.
Investigations revealed that Dr. Soni had prescribed Coldrif syrup to most of the deceased children. A lab report released on Friday confirmed that the medicine contained 48.6% Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a highly toxic substance that can cause kidney failure and death when consumed.
- PTC NEWS
