Mineral Water Instead Of Saline? Dindori District Hospital In Soup After Youth's Treatment Video Goes Viral

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A video-- showing bottled mineral water being used to treat a youth after he consumed rat poison, threw the netizens for a loop. Some netizens expressed shock assuming the water bottle was used in place of an IV drip, while others appeared to be disappointed over the 'unorganised' health system in rural areas.

According to information, an 18-year-old patient was admitted to Dindori district hospital after he mistakenly consumed rat poison.

The video showed the mineral water bottle hanging from a stand like IV drip, connected to the patient. The viral clip drew flak on social media, prompting the district administration to issue show cause notice to those involved.

The hospital staff, on the contrary, claimed that the video-- shot from the wrong angle, was misunderstood.

Collector swings into action

The district collector issued show-cause notices to the district's top health officials and the duty doctor, and asked them to submit their replies by August 3.

A staff nurse has also been suspended for allegedly not following medical treatment protocols.

Watch the VIDEO below :

The Incident

According to hospital officials, the patient was admitted on July 22 after accidentally consuming rat poison. They said doctors first washed his stomach using normal saline and later used slightly warm bottled drinking water through a tube inserted into his nose as part of a gastric lavage procedure to further clean the stomach.

The hospital denied claims that mineral water was given through an IV drip. Officials said the bottled water was used only for stomach washing and not as a replacement for saline.

They added that the patient remained under observation and was later discharged in stable condition.

According to the patient...

The patient also supported the hospital's version. He said he had mistakenly consumed rat poison after confusing it with medicine kept at home.

After he started vomiting, his friends rushed him to the hospital. He said doctors inserted a tube through his nose, cleaned his stomach, and saved his life. He also said no mineral water was given through a drip.

Hospital authorities said the treatment followed the standard poisoning protocol.

They claimed that after using normal saline, lukewarm drinking water was used for the stomach wash and that clean drinking water can also be used during the procedure.

Mineral Water Used Without Consulting seniors

However, the district collector said the preliminary inquiry found that bottled mineral water was used without consulting a senior doctor, even though normal saline was available.

The collector called it a serious lapse, saying it could have put the patient's health at risk and affected the reputation of the health department. The notices state that the incident may amount to negligence under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules.

Medical experts have expressed different views. A forensic medicine specialist said gastric lavage is a commonly used emergency procedure to treat poisoning patients.

However, a former National Health Mission official said stomach washing should ideally be done using a sterile medical-grade solution such as normal saline.

He warned that bottled mineral water is not sterile and may increase the risk of infection, stressing that hospitals should strictly follow standard treatment guidelines.