A 62-year-old woman is currently intubated and in critical condition at Tzaneio Hospital following a shocking medical error where she received a blood transfusion with an incompatible blood type. The woman’s family has filed a legal complaint against the nurse involved, who allegedly confused patients and administered the transfusion to the wrong individual. An internal investigation is underway to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Reports indicate that the woman was admitted on Tuesday, June 3, for a preoperative assessment ahead of a scheduled neurosurgery the next morning. At approximately 3 a.m. on Wednesday, a night-shift nurse erroneously transfused blood meant for another neurology patient in the same room, who had already received a prior transfusion. Both patients were under care in the Second Internal Medicine ward due to a shortage of beds in the neurology unit. The night shift comprised two nurses and two nursing assistants.
The transfusion caused an immediate severe reaction, with the patient’s body quickly rejecting the incompatible blood type, leading to hemolysis—the destruction of red blood cells. This resulted in a rapid decline in her health; she was intubated and moved to the ICU. As of last night, she had undergone surgery to address a hematoma in her head, and doctors have described her condition as serious but currently stable.
Significantly, this incident does not stem from a failure in blood safety or screening processes but seems to be a case of human error.
The 30-year-old nurse reportedly recognized the mistake immediately and expressed apologies to the woman’s family. Nonetheless, the family has opted for legal recourse. The hospital has initiated an official disciplinary investigation, while both the Health Quality Assurance Organization (ODIPY) and the National Blood Donation Center (EKEA) are conducting separate inquiries. According to Greek law, the nurse faces a suspension of at least one month during the judicial process.
Health Minister Issues Apology
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has publicly apologized to the patient and her family, announcing the initiation of a comprehensive investigation. He mentioned that upon discovering the error, the hospital administration promptly ordered a disciplinary review and notified the public prosecutor. Parallel investigations by ODIPY and EKEA were also triggered.
“In light of this extremely serious incident at Tzaneio Hospital, the administration acted swiftly by launching a full investigation, notifying the prosecutor, and instructing ODIPY and EKEA to commence their own inquiries. I wish the patient a speedy recovery and extend my heartfelt apologies to her and her family,” Georgiadis stated.
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