GUWAHATI: A controversy has surfaced at Dhubri Medical College and Hospital after the family of a 61-year-old patient alleged that he was transfused with the wrong blood group during treatment. The hospital administration, however, has rejected the allegation, maintaining that the issue stemmed from a labelling error and not an incorrect transfusion.
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The patient, Abubakkar Siddique (61), a resident of Kutkutarvita village under Bagribari Police Station, was admitted to the hospital on July 1 with severe anaemia. According to doctors, his haemoglobin level had dropped to 6 g/dL, following which he was advised three units of blood.
Family members alleged that Siddique's condition deteriorated after receiving the first unit of blood, leading to his admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). They claimed that while arranging the second unit, they found a prescription indicating the patient's blood group as B-positive, despite his actual blood group being O-positive. Based on this, the family alleged that the first unit transfused was also of the wrong blood group.
The patient continues to remain under treatment in the ICU. The family, supported by local residents, has demanded a fair and independent investigation into the incident and strict action against those found responsible.
Responding to the allegations, Dhubri Medical College Superintendent Dr Gunajit Das said that no mismatched blood had been transfused. He stated that hospital records, blood bank registers and fresh tests confirmed that the patient was administered only O-positive blood.
According to the Superintendent, the confusion arose due to a clerical error by a blood bank technician, who mistakenly labelled an O-positive blood bag as B-positive.
Dr Das further said that an internal inquiry committee, headed by the Head of the Department of Anaesthesia, was constituted to examine the matter. The committee's findings concluded that the patient had received the correct blood group.
Hospital Principal Dr Anku Moni Saikia also dismissed the allegations, stating that additional tests have been arranged at Kokrajhar Medical College to verify the matter. He added that the hospital is willing to bear the cost of testing at any accredited laboratory if the family seeks further confirmation.
Despite the hospital's clarification, the patient's family has continued to press for an independent inquiry into the incident.