Doctors launch statewide protest over pediatrician’s arrest in Chhindwara:IMA, medical officers, teachers, junior doctors unite; to wear black bands at work, demand Dr Soni’s release

The arrest of senior pediatrician Dr. Praveen Soni in Chhindwara, in connection with the Coldrif cough syrup tragedy, has triggered an unprecedented uproar in the medical fraternity of Madhya Pradesh. Doctors across the state, cutting across organisations, have announced they will wear black bands while on duty as a mark of protest, on October 8. If the FIR against Dr. Soni is not withdrawn, associations have warned of statewide agitation, including intensifying protest in Chhindwara by shutting down Outpatient Departments (OPDs) from October 8 until his release. United front of medical associations On Tuesday, major organisations including the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Madhya Pradesh Medical Officers’ Association (MPMOA), Progressive Medical Teachers’ Association (PMTA), and the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) came together in solidarity. Doctors staged a symbolic protest by wearing black armbands and condemned what they called the ‘unjust and hasty’ arrest of Dr. Soni, carried out in violation of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on criminal liability of doctors. Supreme Court precedent overlooked The protesting bodies pointed to the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Jacob Mathew vs State of Punjab (2005), which clearly states that no doctor can be held criminally liable for negligence unless gross negligence is proved and certified by a competent medical expert body. By arresting Dr. Soni without such evaluation, associations argued, authorities have undermined the dignity of the medical profession and ignored binding judicial precedent. Meeting scheduled to decide next steps Doctors’ leaders said that a state-level meeting of associations’ office bearers is scheduled this evening. If the government fails to roll back the FIR and release Dr. Soni from judicial custody, they warned of an intensified statewide movement. Doctors will not remain silent if one of us is made a scapegoat for systemic lapses. a joint statement from the associations read. PMTA’s strong objection The Progressive Medical Teachers’ Association, in its memorandum to Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, noted that forensic tests showed Coldrif syrup contained 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG), an industrial solvent that led to acute kidney failure and the death of 23 children. The PMTA asserted that the responsibility lay with Shri Sant Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer, and with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which allowed contaminated syrups to be sold without timely checks, despite advisories from the Centre. Demand for withdrawal of FIR Both PMTA and MPMOA demanded immediate withdrawal of the FIR against Dr. Soni and called for stern action against the actual culprits, the company and negligent regulatory officials. They stressed that while they stand with the bereaved families in grief, targeting treating doctors will not prevent such tragedies, and systemic regulation of medicines must be strengthened instead. Indore crackdown intensifies Meanwhile, in Indore, authorities have intensified their checks on cough syrups following the Chhindwara deaths. Under the supervision of CMHO Dr. Madhav Hasani, seven drug inspector teams inspected wholesale depots, retail medical stores, and distributors at Pipliyahana, Bhanwarkuan, Mari Mata, Dewas Naka, and Dawa Bazar. They examined records of Coldrif, Nestro DX, and other products manufactured by Shri Sant Pharmaceuticals, the company under the scanner. Officials confirmed that no supply of the fatal Coldrif syrup has been traced in Indore so far. As a precaution, syrups of other companies were also checked and samples collected for laboratory analysis.