Guwahati: The Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has initiated an internal inquiry into an alleged medication error after a patient admitted with fever was reportedly administered injections prescribed for another patient, prompting concerns over patient safety at the state’s premier government hospital.
The patient, identified as Kavita Deka, was undergoing treatment for fever when a nursing intern allegedly administered three injections intended for a neighbouring patient suffering from a kidney-related ailment. According to her family, Deka’s condition deteriorated following the administration of the medication.
Confirming the incident, GMCH Superintendent Dr Devajit Choudhury said an inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate the matter and ascertain whether established treatment and patient identification protocols were followed.
Preliminary findings indicate that the incident occurred during a busy night shift amid an unusually high patient load at the hospital. Dr Choudhury said the two patients were admitted in adjacent beds, and the nursing intern mistakenly administered the injections after failing to verify the correct bed number.
“The mistake was identified soon after the injections were administered, and immediate steps were taken by the hospital administration,” he said.
The Superintendent informed that the nursing intern involved has been relieved of her duties pending the outcome of the inquiry. He added that Head Nurse Minakshi Duwara, who was supervising the ward at the time, is also under the purview of the inquiry.
The committee has been tasked with examining the sequence of events, assessing compliance with standard operating procedures, reviewing patient identification practices, and identifying any lapses in supervision or protocol. The hospital said appropriate action will be taken based on the committee’s findings.
In response to the incident, GMCH has announced that it will strengthen its patient safety measures by introducing additional skill-based training programmes for nursing personnel. While noting that nurses and interns already undergo regular professional training, the administration said the enhanced training is intended to minimise the risk of similar incidents in the future.
The alleged medication error has sparked concerns over safety standards in one of Assam’s largest referral hospitals, with the inquiry expected to establish accountability and recommend measures to prevent recurrence.
