GIMS doctor prescribes O+ blood for woman with O- blood group, family vents ire

KALABURGI: A doctor at the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) reportedly prescribed O+ blood for transfusion for a woman patient with O- blood group. However, he corrected the prescription after it was brought to his attention by the patient’s relatives.

The patient’s nephew with the bag of blood.

Basamma Anil Kumar, the patient, had been admitted to the hospital for hysterectomy and was anaemic. The doctor prescribed O- blood group after checking her blood type, which was supplied by the blood bank. However, the next day, the doctor prescribed O+ blood for the patient. When a relative went to the blood bank, the staff checked a sample, noticed the change and asked him to get the prescription changed.

Basamma (wearing white dupatta) with her sisters.

The relative then went back to the doctor and pointed out the mistake after which he changed the prescription. However, the family members of the woman have vented their anger at the doctor and demanded action against him.

Hospital medical superintendent Dr Shashikumar said they are inquiring about the matter. “If there was a mistake, action will be taken, but first an inquiry will be conducted by the mother and child district surgeon and the resident medical officer. Only after that, disciplinary action will be initiated”.