An 11-month-old girl died after receiving treatment at a private hospital in Honnali, with her family alleging that an expired medicine was administered
Police have begun examining the death of an 11-month-old girl in Karnataka's Davangere district after her family alleged that she was administered an expired medicine at a private hospital in Honnali. The hospital's role and the allegations are under investigation.
Davanagere: The death of an 11-month-old girl in Karnataka's Davangere district has triggered an investigation after her family alleged that she was administered an expired medicine at a private hospital in Honnali taluk.
The deceased has been identified as Poorvika, daughter of Vasundhara and Lokesh, residents of Hanumanahalli village. Police have initiated an inquiry into the allegations surrounding the child's treatment.
Family Alleges Expired Medicine Was Administered
According to the family, the infant had been admitted to a private hospital in Sasvehalli after developing health complications.
The parents alleged that the child's condition deteriorated immediately after doctors administered the prescribed medicine. They have claimed that the medicine given to the infant had crossed its expiry date.
The allegation that an expired medicine was administered has been made by the child's family and is currently under investigation.
Infant Dies During Treatment in Devanagari
The family alleged that the infant died within a short time of receiving the medication at the hospital.
Following the child's death, relatives expressed concern over the treatment provided and demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police Begin Investigation in Devanagari
The incident falls under the jurisdiction of the Honnali Police Station, where authorities have initiated an investigation based on the allegations.
Police are expected to examine medical records, the medicines administered, and statements from hospital staff and the child's family to determine the cause of death and verify the allegations.
Authorities are examining the family's allegations, and further legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation.
Similar incidents reported in Karnataka over the years
The allegations in the Davangere case come amid several reported incidents involving expired medicines, contaminated drugs or medical lapses in Karnataka over the past decade. While the circumstances of each case differ, they have prompted investigations and regulatory action in different parts of the state.
In November 2023, an FIR was registered against a doctor and hospital staff at Sanjeevini Hospital in Bengaluru's Mahalakshmi Layout after a parent alleged that an expired injection had been administered to a two-year-old child. The complaint was filed after the parent noticed the expiry date and questioned hospital authorities.
In November 2024, five women died after undergoing Caesarean deliveries at a district hospital in Ballari. An official medical panel later found that multiple batches of Ringer's Lactate intravenous fluid supplied to government hospitals had failed quality tests. The Karnataka government subsequently initiated criminal proceedings against the pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Earlier, in January 2018, parents at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hubballi, alleged that expired medicine had been administered to their one-week-old newborn. The issue came to light after the parents checked the medicine packaging following the infant's deterioration, leading to protests at the hospital.
In March 2017, a two-year-old boy in Mandya district died after consuming expired cough syrup that had been stored at home. According to reports, the medicine was administered without checking its expiry date.
Hospital medicine management remains under scrutiny
Concerns regarding medicine storage and inventory management have also surfaced during regulatory inspections.
In March 2026, a surprise inspection by the Karnataka Lokayukta at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru reportedly found expired medicines stored inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Trauma Care Centre. The inspection highlighted the importance of maintaining proper stock management and periodic verification of medicines in healthcare facilities.
Authorities have not linked the Davangere case to any previous incidents. Police said the current investigation will focus solely on the circumstances surrounding Poorvika's treatment, and conclusions will be drawn only after medical and forensic evidence is examined.
