BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of the death of a woman caused by wrong blood transfusion at District Headquarters Hospital of Keonjhar.
The rights panel has directed Secretary, Health and Family Welfare as well as the Collector to inquire into the incident separately and submit reports with four weeks.
Terming the incident, which was reported in the media on Wednesday, as 'very sensitive' in nature, Acting Chairperson Justice BK Mishra has posted the next hearing on January 30, 2017.
According to reports, the victim Sukanti Naik was admitted into the medicine ward of the hospital where another woman with the same name was lodged in the O&G Ward. Both the patients, with different blood groups, were in need of blood transfusion. However, the blood got mixed up and Sukanti was administered the blood meant for her namesake. Her condition deteriorated and she died.
After the matter came to light, the Keonjhar CDMO terminated the services of the staff nurse Hemalata Mahant and laboratory technician of the blood bank Bharati Mahant while recommending disciplinary action against Dr Sujit Kumar Brahma for negligence in duty. Three such incidents had been reported in the hospital in recent times.
Taking note of a separate case, the Commission has asked Secretary of School and Mass Education Department and Kandhamal Collector to submit reports on why the students of Tangam Primary School under Baliguda block are forced to use water from a 'nala' for cooking mid day meal and drinking within four weeks. Use of such water is reported to have caused stomach and skin diseases among the students.