SHILLONG, SEPT 20: The authority of Woodland Hospital, a multi specialty hospital situated at the heart of the city, has instituted an internal inquiry into the alleged case of negligence where a patient suffering from breast tumor was administered with expired blood recently.
The incident, which came as a shock to the hospital management, was brought to light when media persons along with evidence approached the authority for clarification on the serious negligence which may endanger precious lives.
Interestingly, the patient concerned who hails from a remote village in Ri Bhoi District, was not aware of the incident.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Werlok Kharshiing said, “We have immediately instituted an inquiry into the matter and action will be taken (against those responsible) accordingly.”
Admitting that it is a case of negligence, Kharshiing said, “The hospital will not deny that legally it is wrong (to administer expired blood to patients). It is true that the blood given to the patient on August 31 has already expired on August 30. The blood transfusion was done 12 hours after the blood had expired.”
The medical superintendent however said that preliminary investigation revealed that the senior technician of the hospital’s blood storage centre had gone ahead releasing the expired blood without consulting the in-charge of the centre.
Woodland hospital is tying up with the Regional Blood Bank and Pasteur Institute Shillong.
Whether the patient has lodged any complaint on the matter, Kharshiing said, “No complaint was received from the patient since she is not even aware of the incident. In fact, we only came to know about this mistake from media persons.”
He further informed that the patient had tumors growing in both of her breasts since she was 23 years old and the tumor was successfully removed from only one side four-five years ago.
“However recently, she was admitted in the hospital after she was suffering from severe anemia due to stillbirth. She was given blood transfusion four times during her stay in the hospital,” he said.
Asked, Kharshiing said that the patient till now had not complaint of any health problem after being discharged from the hospital on September 8. “There are two types of preserving blood one is for 35 days and the other for 45 days. However as you preserve, the quality comes down,” he said.
What if the state health authorities take cognizance of the incident, Kharshiing said if they cancelled our license (of the storage centre), it will be a great loss as patients will no doubt be affected.
Meanwhile, the senior technician while owning responsibility admitted that she had released the blood without the knowledge of the doctors and tendered her apology to the hospital. “I alone deserve to be punished but not the hospital,” she said.
By Our Reporter
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