Vashi Resident on Ventilator After Alleged Expired Saline at Civic Hospital
A 50-year-old resident of Vashi is in critical condition and on ventilator support at Hiranandani Fortis Hospital after his family alleged that he was administered expired intravenous saline at the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Hospital in Vashi. The family has accused the hospital's duty doctors and nursing staff of gross apathy and dereliction of duty, claiming they failed to respond to repeated requests for help as his health deteriorated.
Gopiram Bhivaji Khadse, who works as a cleaner at Jagrateshwar Mandir in Sector 7, Vashi, was admitted to the civic-run hospital on August 31 with fever, dizziness, and general weakness, according to his son, Ajay Khadse. While his condition was initially stable, his family reported that it worsened sharply following the administration of the intravenous fluid.
According to the family, the IV bottle administered to Khadse had already expired. Ajay Khadse stated that his father developed severe itching, hives, and a high fever after the infusion began, by which time nearly 80 percent of the bottle had already entered his body. The family noticed the expiry date when checking the bottle, took photographs as evidence, and noted that the fluid had expired two months prior.
Ajay Khadse alleged that he approached the medical staff roughly ten times to plead for assistance while his father writhed in distress, but said the staff ignored their requests. Following the incident, the family staged a sit-in demonstration inside the medical superintendent's cabin at the Vashi hospital, demanding strict disciplinary and criminal action against the medical personnel on duty.
The civic hospital subsequently transferred Khadse to Hiranandani Fortis Hospital under its municipal quota arrangement. He remains in the intensive care unit on ventilator support.
Dr Ravindra Mhatre, medical superintendent of NMMC Hospital in Vashi, confirmed that Khadse was admitted on August 31 for primary treatment and that his condition worsened the following afternoon. Mhatre stated that Khadse tested positive for both malaria and dengue, adding that his worsening state could not be linked to the saline without a formal investigation.
Mhatre stated that an inquiry committee has been constituted to inspect the saline bottles and investigate the allegations. He noted that action will be taken against anyone found guilty once the committee submits its report, with the findings to be made public after the probe concludes.
