Wrong blood group almost killed woman at Goa hospital

PANAJI - A woman nearly died at Goa’s only medical college in the last week of August after she was administered blood which did not match her type.

An enquiry report, which was received by the state health ministry Friday, confirmed the incident and has advocated several correctional measures.

Goa Medical College dean V.N. Jindal said an enquiry had been conducted into the death. “We have already submitted the report to the health ministry.”

“They are seized of the matter,” he said, adding that a new improved protocol was being put in place so that a similar incident does not happen again.

On Aug 25, the patient (name not disclosed), a pregnant woman, started bleeding profusely when she was rushed to the operation theatre. In course of the procedure, she was administered the wrong blood type.

“It was only when the patient developed complications that the hospital authorities realised their folly,” a senior health department official said.

“A new protocol has been evolved now which includes putting a doctor in charge of the pathological laboratory where the blood tests are conducted,” the official added.

The lamentable state of hospitals in Goa was reflected in the nearly hour-long discussion in the Goa legislative assembly when the house discussed an incident at the government-run Asilo hospital in Mapusa, 13 km from here.

A wood-framed painting hanging from a wall fell on the head of a woman accompanying her kin to the operation theatre, seriously injuring her.