Keonjhar: Tension gripped the district headquarters hospital following the death of a patient due to alleged transfusion of wrong blood. Family members of the deceased lodged complaint against chief district medical officer (CDMO) and assistant district medical officer (ADMO), holding the medical authorities responsible for the unfortunate incident.
Sukanti Nayak of Old Bazar area in the town was admitted to the medicine ward of the hospital on Tuesday. However, doctors referred her to Cuttack for better treatment and all arrangements were made to shift her on Wednesday. In the meantime, doctors advised her for a unit of blood.
But, the staff on duty allegedly transfused wrong group of blood leading to her death, relatives alleged.
“Our patient belongs to 'O' group where as 'A'group blood was administered to her resulting in death", alleged Sricharan Nayak, a relative of the patient.
"We arranged the blood from blood bank as per the advice of doctors. Minutes after the nurse administered the blood, our patient started trembling and the nurse fled the ward by that time. No doctor was available during that time to attend our patient", he added.
If adequate compensation is not provided, we would not receive the body for last rites", another kin said.
The hospital authorities also admitted the blunder committed by the hospital staff. "I will not hesitate to admit it as an unpardonable offence. We will form a committee very soon to investigate the matter and action will be taken accordingly" CDMO Kabindra Sahoo said.
Sahoo said there was a miscommunication at the blood bank that led to the unfortunate incident. “Two requisitions in the same name- one from Gynaecology and another from Medicine ward- had come to the blood bank. When the technicians processed the requisition for the gynaecology ward patient, the attendants were not present there at the time. So, the kin of Sukanti Nayak, who expired today, received the blood which was really meant for Gynaecology patient. However, the sister on duty should have examined the group before transfusion", Sahoo added.
Later in the day, the CDMO, taking note of the gross negligence resulting in the death of the woman patient, dismissed two hospital staffs-- Laboratory technician Bharati Mohanta and Staff Nurse Hemalata Mohanta from their service.
He also recommended the Health department to take stern action against a doctor for gross dereliction of duty.