Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Mineral water video stirs anger at Dindori hospital, notices issued
A video from a hospital in India made many people upset.
The video seemed to show a water bottle used instead of medicine during treatment.
An 18-year-old boy had eaten rat poison by mistake.
Doctors helped him by cleaning his stomach with a tube.
The hospital explained the water bottle was just part of cleaning his stomach, not an IV drip.
The boy himself said the doctors saved his life.
Even so, hospital leaders said staff should have asked a senior doctor first.
A nurse was suspended and some officials got notices.
Medical experts disagreed about whether bottled water was safe for the procedure.
The boy got better and went home.
A viral video appeared to show a mineral water bottle used as an IV drip for an 18-year-old rat poison patient at Dindori district hospital in Madhya Pradesh.
Hospital officials said bottled water was used only for gastric lavage (stomach washing), not as a replacement for saline, and that the video was shot from a misleading angle.
The district collector issued show-cause notices to top health officials and the duty doctor, citing use of mineral water without consulting a senior doctor.
A staff nurse was suspended for allegedly not following medical treatment protocols.
The patient supported the hospital's version, said he mistook rat poison for medicine, and was later discharged in stable condition.
- Who
- An 18-year-old patient, Dindori district hospital staff, the district collector, and health officials in Madhya Pradesh.
- What
- A viral video showing what looked like mineral water used as an IV drip sparked outrage and led to show-cause notices and a nurse's suspension.
- When
- The patient was admitted on July 22; the video went viral and notices were issued with replies due by August 3.
- Where
- Dindori district hospital, Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Why
- Officials said mineral water was used during stomach washing without consulting a senior doctor, which they called a possible serious lapse.
Hospital's Defense
Administration & Medical Critics
Use of mineral water in treatment
Hospital's Defense
Bottled water was used only for gastric lavage through a nose tube, not as an IV drip; clean drinking water can be used in the procedure and the patient's life was saved.
Administration & Medical Critics
Mineral water was used without consulting a senior doctor even though normal saline was available; bottled water is not sterile and may increase infection risk.
Viral video interpretation
Hospital's Defense
The video was shot from the wrong angle and was misunderstood; no mineral water was given through a drip as claimed.
Administration & Medical Critics
The video showed a mineral water bottle hanging from a stand like an IV drip, prompting shock and criticism over the rural health system's organization.
- Patient age
- 18 years
- Cause of admission
- Accidental consumption of rat poison (mistaken for medicine)
- Admission date
- July 22
- Procedure used
- Gastric lavage (stomach wash) with normal saline and lukewarm bottled drinking water
- Administrative action
- Show-cause notices to top health officials and duty doctor; staff nurse suspended
- Reply deadline
- August 3
- Patient outcome
- Discharged in stable condition
- Location
- Dindori district hospital, Madhya Pradesh