Hospital Forms Investigation Committee
Sherpur: Teen with 'A Negative' Blood Receives 'O Positive' Transfusion
Photo: Agamir Somoy
A 14-year-old girl named Afsana Akhtar was admitted to Jamalpur General Hospital for an appendectomy. Following her surgery on Tuesday, a nurse administered "O Positive" blood to her. Approximately half an hour later, the nurse realized that the patient's actual blood type was "A Negative."
Doctors have kept the girl under close observation at the hospital. Meanwhile, a committee has been formed to investigate the nurse's negligence. Shamim Iftekhar, the hospital’s Resident Medical Officer (RMO), confirmed the incident to Agamir Somoy.
Afsana Akhtar is the daughter of one Anisur Rahman and Anjuman Ara Begum hailing from Moksedpur area of Sherpur Sadar Upazila. She is a fifth-grade student at New Model School in the Rupsi area of Narayanganj. She had recently come to visit her maternal grandfather's house in Jamalpur with her mother.
Afsana's maternal uncle, Abir Hasan, provided an account of the events: "A few days ago, my niece had abdominal pain... last Saturday, we consulted a doctor at a private hospital. On his advice, she was later admitted to the General Hospital. After several tests, Dr. Saifullah Kabir informed us that Afsana had appendicitis. After the operation on Tuesday, a nurse named Akhi suddenly arrived and began administering blood. However, the doctor had not previously mentioned that she would need a transfusion."
Abir alleged that the nurse realized only after thirty minutes that she was giving "O Positive" blood to an "A Negative" patient. He suspects that a patient in the adjacent bed, who had undergone a C-section, required the "O Positive" blood, and the nurse mistakenly administered it to Afsana instead.
Afsana's mother, Anjuman Ara, said, “My daughter did not need any blood. The doctor never mentioned anything about a transfusion. Suddenly, the nurse brought a bag of blood and started administering it. When I tried to stop her, the nurse replied, ‘Do you understand more than I do?’ and continued with the transfusion.”
Following the ensuing commotion, hospital authorities removed the nurse, Akhi, on Tuesday night. The next day, Afsana's family filed a written complaint with Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman Sohan, the Assistant Director of the General Hospital.
“The girl is under observation. Her condition is currently stable,” said Shamim Iftekhar, the hospital’s Resident Medical Officer (RMO).
The Assistant Director noted that 20 ml of blood was mistakenly administered. However, hospital records state the amount of incorrect blood given was 50 ml.
“If the wrong blood type is administered, the patient usually experiences allergies, respiratory distress, fever, and vomiting. There is also a risk of death. However, in this case, a small amount was given. We have kept her under observation, and she remains healthy so far,” explained Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman.
Hospital authorities have formed an investigation committee headed by medicine specialist Moshaerul Islam Suman. The Assistant Director confirmed that the committee is expected to submit its report within three days.
