Viral Video Reveals Nurse Reusing Syringe at Mayiladuthurai Government Hospital; Suspended after revelation

A nurse at Mayiladuthurai General Hospital has been suspended for allegedly reusing syringes while administering injections to patients in the intensive care unit. The suspension follows a viral video recorded by V. Hariharan, a YouTuber from Akkur, which captured the nurse's actions.

Hariharan took his 58-year-old mother Kalyani to the hospital for treatment of chest pain on September 27, 2024, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit. While observing the treatment process on September 30, 2024, he noticed that several nurses were reusing syringes. Concerned for patient safety, he recorded a nurse reusing a syringe on his cell phone.

In the video, when Hariharan confronted a nurse about reusing a syringe, she admitted on camera that she put 5 ml of medication into it. However, she injected only 1 ml into each patient. Despite his complaints to the nursing supervisor about the unsafe practice, no immediate action was taken against the nurse.

Frustrated by the lack of response from hospital authorities, Hariharan witnessed more incidents of re-use of syringes. He posted the video on social media on Tuesday. Speaking to the press, he explained that his mother informed him about the nurses' reuse of syringes, which led him to verify the claims himself. He expressed disappointment with the nursing staff and said they reprimanded his mother for admitting him.

After the video circulated online, Hariharan also lodged formal complaints with the hospital's chief medical officer and the joint director of health services. This triggered an investigation by health authorities, which led to the nurse's suspension. District officer AP Mahabharathi confirmed that the decision to suspend the nurse was taken after an initial investigation and stressed the need for strict disciplinary action against any healthcare workers found guilty of similar negligent practices.

In a statement, Collector Mahabharathi urged nurses and other healthcare professionals to adhere to safety protocols and warned of dire consequences for those found guilty of endangering patient safety. Meanwhile, Hariharan's mother was released on October 1, 2024.

Hariharan also stated that the patients who were given medication through the same syringe were tested only for HIV and not for other viruses such as Hep B, C, HPV and herpes simplex – if they were infected, the treatment would not be effective. Stating that these diseases could infect the patients due to the nurse's callous attitude and mistakes, he wrote a letter to the CMO stating that the hospital would be discharged if his mother was tested within three months and it was determined that she was infected with one of the viruses responsible.