Who is Liable When a Licensed Drug Causes Harm? — The “Coldrif” Controversy Every Doctor Should Know About

Who is Liable When a Licensed Drug Causes Harm? — The “Coldrif” Controversy Every Doctor Should Know About

A tragedy unfolds. Children die after taking a cough syrup.

The doctor who prescribed it is arrested — while those who made and approved it walk free. Is this justice, or convenience?

· In late September 2025, reports from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan revealed multiple child deaths following the use of Coldrif cough syrup.

· Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) — a toxic contaminant known to cause kidney failure and death.

· The prescribing doctor, was soon suspended and arrested, even as the manufacturer and regulators faced limited immediate action.

· The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other professional bodies have since come out in strong defence of the doctor. They rightly highlight that Coldrif is a licensed and government-approved product — available in the open market for routine prescription.

· A doctor prescribing a licensed formulation acts within the scope of accepted medical practice. The manufacturer bears full legal and ethical responsibility for ensuring the drug’s purity, composition, and compliance with safety standards. The government’s drug regulatory agencies are accountable for enforcing those standards, conducting inspections, and preventing contaminated products from reaching patients.

· Making a doctor the scapegoat may appease public anger, but it distracts from holding the truly accountable parties — the manufacturer and the watchdog agencies — to the standards they are legally bound to uphold.

As a medical community let’s ensure that tomorrow, it isn’t another innocent doctor paying the price for someone else’s negligence. This case affects every prescribing doctor in the country — so let’s ensure we talk about it.

#Coldrif #Medicolegal #DoctorLiability #IMA #PatientSafety #MedicalEthics #IndianHealthcare