Family alleges expired IV administered to child at IGMH

A family has alleged that their four-year-old child was administered an expired intravenous (IV) fluid at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), approximately 16 months after its expiration date. The incident reportedly occurred during the child’s surgery on Sunday.

According to the discharge summary provided by the hospital, the following timeline was recorded:

During this period, the child reportedly received approximately 225 ml of IV fluid.

The child’s family has claimed that IGMH attempted to remove part of the discharge summary and cover up the use of expired medical supplies. They stated that after the child was moved to the operating theatre, the same IV line was reconnected. A nurse later replaced the IV bottle, stating that there was a leak. The child’s mother questioned the nurse, but was told the replacement was routine.

Following the surgery, another nurse reportedly informed the family that the IV bottle used earlier had expired in January—around 16 months prior. The child’s parents raised the issue with the hospital staff, who allegedly admitted the error and apologised.

The child’s father filed a formal complaint with the hospital. In the complaint, he requested clarification on why expired IV fluid was administered and asked for action against the staff involved. He noted that the child is autistic and unable to verbally express discomfort, increasing the potential risk of complications going unnoticed.

According to the discharge summary, liver and kidney function tests conducted post-surgery showed no concerning results. However, the child’s parents expressed distrust in the hospital's reporting and said they intend to seek further testing from another healthcare facility.

The family also submitted a letter to the Ministry of Health requesting a formal investigation. They have yet to receive a response.

A medical professional consulted on the matter stated that expired IV fluids should not be present in hospital inventories and must be removed before their expiry date. The standard procedure, he said, includes regular inventory checks.

He outlined potential health risks associated with the use of expired IV fluids, including reduced urine output, swelling, breathing difficulties, and greater risks for children due to limited ability to communicate symptoms.

The incident has raised broader concerns over the safety protocols in place at IGMH. The child’s father questioned how many similar cases may have occurred without detection.

IGMH has not issued a public statement on the incident at the time of publication.