Authorities in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have ordered a probe into allegations of medical negligence after the family of a dengue patient claimed that he was given sweet lime (locally known as musambi) juice drip instead of plasma that claimed his life.
The probe was ordered by Uttar Pradesh's deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak after a video purportedly showing sweet lime juice inside a blood pack at Global Hospital and Trauma Centre in the city of Allahabad went viral on social media.
"Taking cognisance of the viral video at the hospital where a dengue patient was transfused with sweet lemon juice instead of platelets, on my directive the hospital was sealed and the platelet packets have been sent for testing," the deputy chief minister tweeted.
"If found guilty, strict action will be taken against the hospital," he added.
Meanwhile, the district health authorities have ordered the closure of the private hospital. "The probe will determine the fate of the hospital. For now, the hospital has been sealed, pending investigation," an official told the local media.