Tragic Loss: Pediatrician Suspended After 11 Children Die from Toxic Cough Syrup in Madhya Pradesh

Health Department Takes Action

Bhopal: Following the heartbreaking deaths of 11 children linked to a hazardous cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh, the state's Health Department has taken decisive action by suspending Praveen Soni, a pediatrician at Parasia Civil Hospital.

Soni is accused of prescribing the dangerous medication during his private practice.

The cough syrup, known as 'Coldrif', was discovered to contain toxic substances exceeding safe limits, resulting in kidney failure and the tragic deaths of young patients.

The Health Department's suspension order highlights serious negligence in Soni's treatment of children during his private practice.

Soni, who is stationed at the Civil Hospital in Chhindwara district, faced suspension after an inquiry into the deaths of several children under his care.

The suspension, issued by Health Commissioner Tarun Rathi, cites severe misconduct, claiming Soni prescribed 'harmful medication to infants suffering from cough and cold'.

Reports indicate that the children who ingested the syrup experienced high fevers and severe urination difficulties.

Sadly, many succumbed to kidney failure. The investigation revealed that Soni did not perform adequate medical examinations or provide accurate diagnoses.

Had he acted with due diligence and offered appropriate treatment, these children's lives could have been saved. His negligence has caused irreversible harm and eroded public trust in the healthcare system.

The investigation found that the medications prescribed by Soni contained toxic agents that directly harmed the kidneys of the young patients.

Laboratory tests later confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG), a hazardous industrial chemical typically found in antifreeze and brake fluids, in concentrations ranging from 46.28% to 48.6% in the syrup.

The fatalities, which occurred over the past month, primarily involved children under five years old. The suspension order further states that Soni's actions have 'severely tarnished the reputation of the Health Department and demonstrated his inability to uphold the responsibilities of his official position'.

During his suspension, Soni will be assigned to the office of the Regional Director of Health Services in Jabalpur and will receive a subsistence allowance as per departmental guidelines. This development coincides with ongoing legal actions against Soni and the cough syrup's manufacturer, Shreesan Pharmaceuticals, based in Tamil Nadu.

Both parties have been named in a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Parasia police station, and a Special Investigation Team has been established to investigate the pharmaceutical company's involvement in this tragedy.

The case has ignited widespread outrage and renewed demands for stricter regulations on pediatric prescriptions and pharmaceutical manufacturing standards.

Authorities have pledged to pursue the investigation rigorously to ensure accountability and justice for the victims. The FIR against Soni and the Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer was registered late Saturday night at the Parasia police station.

Soni was apprehended during a late-night raid by a special team led by Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey at Rajpal Chowk in the Kotwali police station area.

The SP confirmed that Soni had treated the majority of the affected children and was taken into custody based on the Block Medical Officer's report.

The case has been filed under sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

The deaths, concentrated in the Parasia area, have raised significant concerns.

Initial reports suggested that the children died due to severe cough and cold symptoms. However, a thorough investigation by the Block Medical Officer revealed that the 'Coldrif' syrup contained a harmful compound responsible for kidney failure.

Based on this finding, legal proceedings were initiated, and further investigations into the prescriptions and supply chain are ongoing.