Dengue Patient Died After Receiving Fake Platelets Transfusion

In the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a dengue patient reportedly passed away after receiving mosambi (sweet lime) juice instead of blood platelets. The private hospital allegedly gave chemicals and the juice in a blood bag during the transfusion.

Laboratory Test Tubes Darko Stojanovic/Pixabay

Fake Platelet Bag

Pradeep Pandey, dengue patient, was transferred to another hospital where he passed away as his condition began to deteriorate. The second hospital's medical staff informed Pandey's family that the platelet bag was a fake and contained juice.

Brajesh Pathak, the deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, issued an order to shut Global Hospital and Trauma Center, the private hospital in Prayagraj city where the event occurred, as the video of the bogus platelet bag gained popularity on social media.

Pathak stated on Thursday that the hospital was sealed on his order, and the platelet packets have been dispatched for testing.Strict action will be taken against the hospital if proven guilty.

Blood Platelets Transfusion

The private hospital's owner, Saurabh Mishra, said the platelets had come from a separate institution.

Mishra told Press Trust of India that after the patient's platelet count fell to 17,000, the family was requested to arrange for blood platelets. He continued by saying that Pandey reacted after receiving three units of the platelets.

According to Yahoo, five units of platelets from SRN Hospital were brought. The patient reacted after receiving three units of blood transfusion so the procedure was stopped. He added that the origin of the platelets should be determined because it has the SRN hospital sticker.

Gathering Platelets

According to his brother-in-law Saurabh Tripathi, Pandey became ill on October 14 and was sent to a private hospital where he was informed he had dengue.

Tripathi told The Indian Express, tests revealed that he had dengue. They learned that he need eight units of platelets on October 16. They were able to gather three units from within the family. He allegedly made contact with the son of the owner of the hospital building and gave him Rs 25,000 for five units.

When his brother-in-law received the four units of platelets, according to Tripathi, his condition deteriorated. He was then taken to a different private hospital. According to the local doctors, there were some blood clots in the body.

On October 19, Pandey passed away. The government has established a three-person panel to investigate the medical malpractice that occurred while the hospital was closed.

ALSO READ: New method to assess platelet health could help ER doctors

Arrest of Fake Sellers

Meanwhile, according to Times of India, police in the city busted a group selling bogus platelets and plasma and detained 10 of its members.They were found to be in possession of 18 plasma bags, 3 allegedly bogus platelet pouches, Rs. 1,025,000, 13 mobile phones, and 3 two-wheelers.

According to Hindustan Times, the 10 offenders included some students studying for local competitive exams.

Shailesh Kumar Pandey, senior superintendent of police (SSP) in Prayagraj, stated that the accused committed the crime in an organized manner and that action would be taken against them in accordance with the strict Gangster Act.

According to SSP, their call records are being checked, and they will also take action against any other people whose identities come up in the inquiry into the fake platelet trafficking, if any. After being presented to the magistrate, the accused was jailed.