SRI LANKA: Mother of two dies due to a transfusion with the incorrect blood type 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the death of a woman, Shiroma Doreen Fernando (41), who died due to a transfusion with the incorrect blood type after undergoing a surgical operation at the Negombo Base Hospital on 26 April 2005. Fernando was undergoing an operation to remove swelling from her womb.

The death of Mrs Fernando is yet another serious case of medical negligence on the part of authorities at the Negombo Base Hospital. On 1 March 2005, doctors at the same hospital mistakenly amputated a woman’s healthy leg, after she was admitted for a minor illness. For details of this case see UA-67-2005, UP-51-2005, and UP-56-2005.

To date, there has been no investigation or inquiry conducted into the death of Mrs Fernando. The hospital authorities and all others involved in the administration of the incorrect blood type have not been charged. No assistance or compensation has been made available to the victim’s family. Her husband is now pursuing the case.

We urge your immediate intervention in this case. Please pressure the Government of Sri Lanka, especially the Minister of Healthcare, Nutrition and Uva Wellassa Development, to initiate an independent investigation and provide all possible assistance to the victim’s family. Likewise urge them to take criminal action against all those involved in Mrs Fernando’s death.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Shiroma Doreen Fernando (41), a resident of Morakele, Ihala Kottaramulla, Negombo
Date and place of incident: 26 April 2005, at the Negombo Base Hospital

Account of the incident (based on the statement of the victim’s husband)

On the evening of 26 April 2005, Shiroma Doreen Fernando (41), died at the Negombo Base Hospital following a surgical operation to remove swelling from her womb. Her death was a result of the transfusion of the incorrect blood type, according to a post mortem report released by the Ragana Teaching Hospital following Mrs Fernando’s death.

Prior to the victim’s death, on 25 April 2005, she was examined by Dr. S. Sivasumithran, a Specialist Gynaecologist and an Obstetrician, following her complaint of abdominal pain. The doctor discovered some unclean material in the victim’s womb and advised her to be admitted at the Ave Maria Private Hospital in Negombo.

Dr. Sivasumithran again examined the victim later that night and performed another scan. It was discovered that swelling existed around the victim’s abdominal area and needed to be removed by surgery. The couple decided to have the surgical operation performed at Negombo Base Hospital, a public hospital, where the cost for surgical operations is cheaper.

On April 26 at around 10:00am, the victim was admitted as an internal patient to Ward 7 of the Negombo base Hospital. The victim’s husband, Mr M. A. Nihal Austin, said his wife was taken to the operating theatre for surgery when he visited her at noon on the same day.

About 12:45pm, the victim was taken back to the ward in a stable condition. She was able to talk with her husband. However, later when they started the blood transfusion and had administered about ¾ of the blood pint into the victim, she started shouting out in severe pain and began losing blood from where the operation had taken place.

The House Officer, Dr. Madushi, then examined the victim and called the attention of another doctor (Senior House Officer). After they discussed the matter another pint of blood was administered to the victim. However, half way through this procedure there was a telephone call from the Blood Bank instructing then to immediately stop the transfusion.  Immediately after that telephone call, the doctor shouted, ‘Stop that transfusion, its wrong blood.’

Thereafter, the transfusion was stopped and the doctor asked the victim whether she could remember her blood type. She told them that her blood type was ‘B Positive.’  Despite the blood transfusion having been stopped, the bleeding continued and the victim continued to shout in pain.

The physician who earlier examined the victim, Dr. S. Sivasumithran, was called to the ward. At around 4:00pm, the victim was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but she died later at about 6:30pm.

Mr M. A. Nihal Austin said he was informed that his wife’s death was due to administration of ‘A Positive’ blood instead of ‘B Positive’ Blood. It was the House Officer who informed the victim’s doctor, Dr. S. Sivasumithran, who later relayed the information to him.

 

 

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