Woman Dies After Hospital Staff Allegedly Injects Wrong Medicine During Treatment

A 45-year-old woman died Thursday in a hospital in India after a staff allegedly administered her the wrong injection.

The family of the victim accused the hospital of negligence. The incident took place at the Government Medical College Hospital in the southern state of Kerala, the police said.

The woman, who has been identified only as Sindhu, was taken to the hospital after she showed dengue fever symptoms. However, lab test reports ruled out the possibility of the virus.

Her husband, identified as Raghu, told the Hindu her condition had become better by Thursday morning. However, a nursing staff gave her an injection, following which her condition deteriorated.

According to the woman's husband, the doctor had prescribed the correct medicine, but the nurse gave her the wrong one.

A police complaint was filed, and the Medical College Police registered a case against the hospital staff under Section 304 (A) of the Indian Penal Code for causing death by negligence. Raghu also filed complaints with the hospital Superintendent and Health Minister Veena George.

However, the hospital authorities responded to the allegations by saying there were no lapses. They claimed the prescribed medicine, "crystalline penicillin," was administered as an injection, Deshabhimani reported.

Authorities said a test dose was also given to check for allergic reactions.

After a complaint was filed, an autopsy was conducted. Authorities are awaiting the results to determine the cause of death.

In another case of negligence, a 32-year-old man died after staff at a hospital injected him with sweet lime juice instead of plasma or platelets. The incident took place in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The patient was admitted to the hospital after he tested positive for dengue. Initially, three units of platelets were administered. "The family has one unit of platelets left with them which as per them caused the complication. Oversight happened at some level. The last unit of platelets which is with the family will be checked. The hospital was sealed on Thursday evening in order to ensure a fair probe," a local medical officer identified as Nanak Saran said. The victim died the following day.