A 55-year-old woman died of severe adverse reactions after receiving an injection at a drug store in Odisha’s Rayagada district, police said. It has raised questions about the circumstances in which the injection was given and whether proper medical procedures were followed by the woman before she deteriorated.
The incident took place at JK Pur in Rayagada district on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Baidehi Kumar, a resident of Getipada village under the Chandili police station limits. The woman had been suffering from fever and cold for a couple of days before she went to the store, the police said.
Baidehi had been taking medicines for her symptoms but did not have any improvement, family members said. Seeking further relief, she went to a medicine store in JK Pur on Thursday. A K Bhadra, a staff member at the store, injected her, they said.
According to the family, Baidehi’s condition changed soon after she received the injection. She had severe adverse reactions and her health deteriorated rapidly. Family members immediately tried to rush her to the Rayagada District Headquarters Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
But then the woman died on the way to the hospital. Her sudden death after that injection triggered the family to call the police and lodge a complaint claiming that the injection administered at the medicine store was responsible for her death.
After the complaint, Chandili police detained A K Bhadra for questioning. The woman's death has been investigated by officers, including the injection that was administered to her as well as what happened next.
Chandili police station Inspector-in-Charge Uttam Sahu said the police had received a written complaint from the woman's family. He confirmed that the woman had received an injection at a medicine store and that the person who allegedly administered the injection had been detained for questioning.
The police have not yet established that the injection caused Baidehi’s death. Officials said the exact cause of death will only be known after the post-mortem examination and analysis of any other forensic evidence. So the investigation will be about what medication or injection was given and whether it was appropriate for the woman and what was the reason she deteriorated so quickly.
The case highlights that injections and other medical interventions should only take place with appropriate professionals. Injections can be used to treat or manage some diseases, but taking medication without proper assessment can be very hazardous in some cases, particularly if the patient’s medical history, allergies, existing conditions, or the suitability of a particular drug have not been established.
The police will probe the situation at the medicine store as well. The police may also verify the source and details of the injection and question those who were present at the time of the incident. The post-mortem findings are expected to be key in determining the medical cause of death.
Now Baidehi’s family has suffered a sudden and tragic loss. Their complaint has led to an official investigation into whether the treatment at the store was to blame for the fatal outcome.
Police said further action would be taken based on the post-mortem report, forensic findings, and other evidence collected during the investigation. But until those findings are available, the alleged connection between the injection and the woman's death is under investigation.
We recommend that people with fever, respiratory problems, or other medical problems be evaluated by an expert and not treated at the pharmacy. At the same time, the real cause of Baidehi Kumar’s death will be investigated by the police and medical exam.
