MY Hospital acts against three nurses to save face:Expired antibiotic case exposes full-chain failures, hospital shields seniors, blames nursing staff

Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital and MGM Medical College administration have taken action against three nursing officers in the case of administering an expired antibiotic to a national-level kabaddi player. The hospital described the action as being based on the recommendations of the probe panel, but instead of fixing the broken procurement and distribution system, the administration has acted only against the nurses, a move widely seen as an attempt to save face and shield senior officials responsible for deeper systemic failures. Action triggered after viral video The incident surfaced when 27-year-old Roshani Singh, admitted in Ward 21 for ascitic fluid complications, was being administered Cipro antibiotic whose expiry date had lapsed in August. Her husband recorded a video of the expired bottle attached to the drip line, prompting widespread outrage and forcing the administration to initiate an inquiry. The probe resulted in limited action: · Nursing Officer Asma Anjum suspended for allegedly administering the expired antibiotic. · In-charge Nursing Officer Naina Gautam penalised with a one-year increment freeze for improper monitoring. · Senior Nursing Officer Angelina Wilfred issued a formal censure proposal for poor stock register maintenance. Despite clear lapses across the supply chain, no action was taken against officials responsible for procurement, central store supervision, pharmacy checks, or administrative oversight. Inquiry committee changed after objections Initially, the department’s HOD Dr. Dharmendra Jhanwar was appointed as head of the probe, a move criticised due to conflict of interest. The decision was later reversed, and a fresh committee was formed under Dr. Abhay Brahmane, with members Dr. Ramu Thakur, Dr. Jitendra Verma, Dr. Ankit Thora and Nursing Superintendent Dayawanti Dalal. Show cause notices were issued to Dr. Jhanwar and other staff, but no punitive action has followed. During the inquiry, staff claimed the vial ‘had not been started’, contradicting the video evidence shared by the family. Pattern of protection for MY Hospital This selective action has reignited concerns over MGM Medical College’s uneven disciplinary approach. While Super Speciality Hospital superintendent Dr. Sumit Shukla was removed immediately when expired medicines were discovered in disposal stock, MY Hospital has repeatedly avoided stringent action, whether in rat bite cases involving infants or the current expired antibiotic incident. Insiders say MY Hospital enjoys institutional protection, allowing lapses to be managed internally rather than corrected structurally. Cosmetic action, not systemic reform By penalising only the lowest rung of staff, the administration has avoided addressing the real issue i.e. a medicine management system breaking at every step. Instead of reforming procurement checks, digital monitoring, store supervision or pharmacy accountability, the hospital has chosen the simplest route: scapegoat three nurses, close the file, and move on. The expired antibiotic case reflects not just negligence, but a recurring pattern of superficial action and deep-rooted administrative failure.