Mismatch in blood transfusion leading to death of patient is medical negligence: NCDRC

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A Kerala based private hospital was accused of giving wrong blood to a woman receiving infertility treatment, which resulted in her death.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has reiterated that a mismatch in blood transfusion resulting in the death of a patient will amount to medical negligence.

A bench of Justice RK Agrawal (President) and Dr SM Kantikar (member), therefore, directed a Thiruvananthapuram based private hospital to pay compensation of ₹20 lakh along with ₹1 lakh litigation cost to the family of a woman who died there in the year 2002.

“In the instant case wrong blood transfusion to Sajeena (deceased) was an error which no hospital/doctor exercising ordinary care would have made. Such an error is not an error of professional judgment but in the very nature of things a sure instance of medical negligence and the hospital's breach of duty contributed to her death. Thus, we have no hesitation to hold the Opposite Party No. 1 (Hospital) and 2 (Doctor responsible for blood transfusion) liable for deficiency in service and the medical negligence.”