SC slams PGI for death due to mismatched blood transfusion

The Supreme Court directed the PGI on Friday to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of a woman who died at the hospital 13 years ago due to mismatched blood transfusion.

“Wrong blood transfusion is not an error of professional judgment but in the very nature of things a sure instance of medical negligence. The hospital’s breach of duty in mismatched blood transfusion contributed to her death…” a Bench observed in the judgment.

Harjit Kaur,who was brought to the hospital for treatment of burns,was given B+ blood instead of A+ on May 20,1996. After mismatched blood transfusion on two consecutive days,she became anaemic and her kidney and liver were deranged,resulting in her death.

The hospital had moved the apex court after the State Consumer Commission awarded a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family and the National Consumer Commission upheld it.