Odisha child with fever administered pneumonia injection after ‘name goof-up’ at Jajpur DHH

A child was administered an injection allegedly intended for another patient at Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) on Tuesday. The matter came to light when a complaint was lodged at the paediatric department by the minor’s parents. 

The incident occurred when Paresh Mallik, a resident of Nilakanthpur in Dasharathpur block, brought his son, Riyansh Mallik, to the hospital with symptoms of fever and cold.

According to Mallik, his son Riyansh was being treated alongside another child, Rihan Khan, who was admitted for pneumonia.

On the morning of the incident, a nurse was preparing to administer an injection. Mallik claims that the nurse mistakenly used the instruction slip intended for Rihan Khan, resulting in Riyansh receiving the injection not prescribed for him. When he questioned the medical staff, the doctors and nurses reportedly insisted that the medicine administered was correct.

Jajpur Hospital Response

The Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) at Jajpur DHH confirmed that a formal complaint regarding the alleged mix-up has been received. He clarified that while the child’s name may have been recorded incorrectly, the medication administered to Riyansh was appropriate.

“The medication was correct. The nurse had simply spelt the wrong name for Riyansh. The injection worked as intended, and the child is healthy, showing no adverse effects from the injection,” said ADMO Manoj Senapati.

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Past Medical Errors at Jajpur DHH

Notably, this incident comes shortly after a high-profile case in August, when a young man, Bharat Das, tragically died at Jajpur DHH after reportedly being administered a wrong injection. 

Das had been admitted just a day prior and was reportedly in good health. Family members stated that he had interacted normally with staff and fellow patients before the incident. The death had then raised major concerns over medical negligence in government-run hospitals. 

Following that incident, an inquiry was ordered, with a team of professors from SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, being involved to ensure transparency and accountability.