SHILLONG: In a shocking incident, a patient was transfused a unit of expired blood in a city hospital.
While the hospital authorities have called for an internal inquiry, Health Minister A.L Hek said that the health department will probe the incident.
A 23-year-old woman B. Umsong who was admitted in Woodland Hospital was infused an expired blood by the authorities of the Hospital.
As per the record, the blood bag 3030 expired on August 30 while the expired blood unit was transfused to the patient on August 31.
Meanwhile, the hospital authorities have admitted the mistake and stated that they are legally wrong and have ordered an internal enquiry.
The technician of the Hospital, Tinny Jose, said that it was done in urgency to save life after conducting all the required tests.
She said that the patient is doing fine and has no complaints after the transfusion.
She apologised for the mistake.
On the other hand, Medical Superintendent of Woodland Hospital, Dr W Kharshiing said that the patient first came to the hospital a few years back with a huge tumour in her body which could not be removed since it required major operation.
Later, she got pregnant and was admitted in unconscious condition. While she survived the trauma, her baby could not be saved.
Later, Umsong was pregnant again, however, this time she delivered a healthy baby. The patient was admitted on August 30 evening in the Hospital in a weak condition.
Her haemoglobin was 2.8 and accordingly blood units were given to her after all the necessary formalities and cross marching, Kharshiing said.
“We don’t deny the incident but the technician took the decision in emergency but their mistake is that they have not informed the officer-in-charge of the blood storage that the blood had expired,” he said, while informing that the blood expired on August 30 midnight.
Meanwhile, the health minister said the State Government will carry out a fact finding probe into the incident.
He also urged all the hospitals to be careful in rendering health services to the people.
