Dhubri: Questions over patient safety have come under the spotlight at Dhubri Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) after the family of a 61-year-old patient alleged that he was administered blood of the wrong group during treatment. The hospital, however, has rejected the allegation, maintaining that the patient received the correct blood and that the confusion stemmed from a clerical error in blood bank documentation.
The patient, Abu Bakkar Siddique (61), a resident of Kutkutarbhita village under Bagribari Police Station in Dhubri district, was admitted to DMCH on July 1 after being diagnosed with severe anaemia. According to hospital officials, his haemoglobin level was critically low, prompting doctors to recommend the transfusion of three units of blood.
According to the patient’s family, his condition deteriorated after the first unit of blood was transfused, following which he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). They further alleged that while preparations were being made for the second transfusion, they noticed the requisition slip mentioned B-positive blood, although the patient is O-positive, raising concerns that an incompatible blood group may have been issued.
The family has demanded a high-level independent inquiry into the incident and sought action against those found responsible if any negligence is established.
Responding to the allegations, DMCH Superintendent Dr Gunajit Das said the hospital conducted an internal verification, which confirmed that the patient had received O-positive blood and not B-positive blood.
Dr Das stated that scientific verification, including examination of the blood bank register, preserved blood bag segments, and repeat blood grouping tests, confirmed that the blood transfused matched the patient’s blood group. He explained that the confusion arose after a blood bank technician mistakenly attached a B-positive label to documents related to an O-positive blood unit.
“The blood grouping and compatibility tests were correctly performed. The mistake occurred only in the labelling of the documentation and not in the blood that was transfused,” Dr Das said.
DMCH Principal Dr Ankumani Saikia also denied that a mismatched blood transfusion had taken place. She acknowledged a clerical error in the documentation but maintained that there was no medical error during the transfusion process.
She added that the hospital had requested the District Commissioner to institute an external inquiry and had also sent blood samples to Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital for independent verification.
The patient continues to receive treatment in the ICU. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked concern among residents in Dhubri, with the patient’s family insisting on an impartial investigation, while hospital authorities maintain that the episode was limited to a documentation error rather than an incorrect blood transfusion.
