Authorities in India’s Uttar Pradesh have closed a hospital to investigate allegations that a patient died after he was transfused with lime juice instead of blood plasma.
Pradeep Pandey died on Wednesday, while being treated for dengue at a private hospital in Prayagraj city, previously known as Allahabad, in the country’s most populous state.
He was given a transfusion by the hospital but his family allege that, after the fourth unit of plasma, his condition started worsening and he died of blood clots.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease common across India. Infected patients usually develop mild to severe health complications including fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. Some patients can suffer severe internal bleeding and shock.
Doctors often treat patients with plasma transfusion therapy to increase the platelet count in the bloodstream.
Pandey's family said they sourced some of the blood units on their own but, as the patient needed further plasma transfusion, they were forced to purchase five units from the hospital for 25,000 Indian rupees ($300).
The family alleged that one of the units contained sweet lime juice instead of platelets, which killed Pandey.
“We were told that he needed eight units of platelets. We managed to arrange three units from within the family. Someone told us that the hospital building owner’s son could arrange platelets for us,” the deceased’s brother-in-law, told local newspapers.
“When the fourth unit of platelets was given to my brother-in-law, his condition worsened.
The patient was taken to a second private hospital, where he died.
"The doctors there said there was some blood clotting in the body; it was mosambi [sweet lime] juice that was given to him instead of platelets,” he said.
The family said that doctors at this second hospital told them the “platelet” bag was fake and actually a mix of chemicals and juice.
Dr Nanak Saran, the chief medical officer of Prayagraj said that an investigation had been launched as they awaited a preliminary autopsy report for further action.
“The family has one unit of platelets left with them. Oversight happened at some level. The last unit of platelets that is with the family will be checked,” Dr Saran said.
About 200 people died to medical negligence in India in 2020, according to National Crime Records Bureau, but experts say those figures are only a fraction of the actual cases in the country.
The healthcare system has for decades struggled to cope with a population of more than one billion.
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Western Clubs Champions League:
- Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
- Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
