Platelet given to wrong child

Action ordered against two employees of SAT Hospital

Two employees of the OBN department at the Sree Avittom Thirunal (SAT) Hospital here will be removed from their current positions in the wake of an incident on Sunday where platelet transfusion was administered to a wrong child.

Baby Sumi, who was given the platelets by mistake, had been undergoing treatment for respiratory ailments since May 20.

The transfusion was in fact to be done for another child, Sinu, who was admitted with cardiac ailments on May 31.

The platelet count of the latter had been found to be too low on Sunday, following which the transfusion was arranged.

However, the employees began giving the platelet to Sumi, owing to the duty doctor leaving at short notice to examine a new patient, and due to the similarity of the names of the babies, according to an official release.

The mistake was noticed soon, and tranfusion was stopped after around 2mm platelet was given to the baby.

She was immediately subjected to observation.

The decision to remove the employees was conveyed to Principal of the Government Medical College by an inquiry commission headed by the hospital Superintendent.

The commission also observed that both children were recovering from their illness.

Although unintended platelet transfusion is typically unlikely to cause any side effect to the patient, the penal action is being taken in view of the gravity of the misconduct, the commission said.