In a tragic incident highlighting grave medical negligence, an 18-month-old child died in Kanpur after being administered a cough syrup intended for adults. The shocking event prompted swift action from health authorities, leading to a raid and the sealing of a local clinic.
Clinic Raided and Sealed After Fatal Incident
Acting on the fatal case, Chief Medical Officer Dr Surendra Kumar Singh and Drug Inspector Dr Jyotsna Singh conducted a surprise raid on a clinic in Bidhuna on Saturday afternoon. The officials seized stocks of the cough syrup and other medicines from the premises for detailed analysis. The seized samples have been dispatched to the government laboratory in Lucknow for forensic testing to ascertain their exact composition and safety.
Following the raid, the CMO confirmed that the clinic involved has been sealed shut with immediate effect. Furthermore, inspections were carried out at other healthcare centres in the vicinity to prevent any similar lapses and ensure compliance with drug dispensing protocols.
A Timeline of Heartbreaking Events
The sequence of events began on Thursday morning. Sachin Kumar, a resident of Patna Bela village, visited the Dovamafi temple in Airwakatra with his wife Neha and their two sons – one aged 18 months and the other just nine months old. The family had gone for the younger child's mundan (head-shaving) ceremony.
After the ritual, the relatives departed, and Sachin proceeded to his brother-in-law's home in Nagla Kaharan village. The tragedy unfolded on Friday morning when both children began coughing and vomiting. In a fatal error, a cough syrup available at home was given to them. The syrup had been brought by their maternal aunt for her personal use and was meant exclusively for individuals above 20 years of age.
Neha later fed the child milk and put both children to sleep. When they failed to wake up by 3 pm, panic ensued, and they were rushed to the Community Health Centre. There, the doctor delivered the devastating news: the 18-month-old was declared dead on arrival. The younger, nine-month-old child was in a critical condition and was immediately referred to the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Saifai for advanced care. The body of the deceased toddler was sent for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Authorities Cite High Dosage as Cause
Preliminary investigations by the health department point to high dosage as the primary cause of the infant's death. The cough syrup, formulated for adult physiology, contained compounds and concentrations utterly unsuitable for a toddler's system, leading to fatal consequences. This incident underscores a critical failure in understanding basic drug safety and dosage instructions.
The raid and subsequent actions by the CMO and drug inspector serve as a stern warning to all medical practitioners and chemists against the irresponsible dispensing of medicines. It also highlights a dire need for public awareness regarding the dangers of using prescription drugs without proper medical consultation, especially for children.
