Dhubri: Allegations of a blood group mix-up at Dhubri Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) have prompted calls for an independent investigation after the family of a 61-year-old patient claimed he was issued blood of the wrong group during treatment. Hospital authorities, however, have dismissed the allegation, stating that the patient received the correct blood and that the confusion resulted from a documentation error.
The patient, Abu Bakkar Siddique (61), a resident of Kutkutarbhita village under Bagribari Police Station, was admitted to DMCH on July 1 with severe anaemia. According to hospital officials, his haemoglobin level was critically low, leading doctors to recommend the transfusion of three units of blood.
The patient’s family alleged that his health deteriorated after the first unit of blood was transfused, following which he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). They further claimed that while preparations were being made for the second transfusion, they noticed the requisition slip mentioned B-positive blood even though the patient is O-positive, raising concerns about a possible mismatch.
Demanding a thorough probe, the family has urged the authorities to conduct an independent inquiry and initiate action if negligence is found.
Rejecting the allegations, DMCH Superintendent Dr Gunajit Das said an internal verification established that the patient was transfused with O-positive blood and not B-positive blood.
According to Dr Das, the verification included examination of the blood bank register, preserved blood bag segments, and repeat blood grouping tests, all of which confirmed that the correct blood had been administered. He attributed the confusion to a blood bank technician who mistakenly attached a B-positive label to paperwork related to an O-positive blood unit.
“The blood grouping and compatibility tests were correctly carried out. The error was confined to the documentation and did not affect the blood transfusion,” Dr Das said.
Hospital Principal Dr Ankumani Saikia also maintained that there had been no medical error during the transfusion. While acknowledging the clerical mistake in labelling, she said patient safety had not been compromised.
She added that the hospital had requested the District Commissioner to order an external inquiry and had sent blood samples to Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital for independent verification.
The patient continues to undergo treatment in the ICU. Meanwhile, the incident has drawn significant public attention in Dhubri, with the patient’s family maintaining its demand for an impartial investigation, while hospital authorities insist that the issue was limited to a documentation lapse and did not involve the transfusion of an incompatible blood group.
