Odesa Anesthesiologist Charged with Negligence After Incompatible Blood Transfusion

Prosecutors of the Suvorov District Prosecutor's Office in Odesa served a notice of suspicion to an anesthesiologist at one of the departments of the Regional Center for Cardiac Surgery at the Odesa Regional Clinical Hospital.

According to the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office, he is charged with improper performance of his professional duties by a medical professional due to negligence, which caused serious consequences for the patient (Article 140(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, the anesthesiologist, in violation of blood transfusion protocols, injected incompatible donor blood into the woman, which led to serious consequences in the form of acute kidney damage.

According to the prosecutor's office, it has now been established that the 67-year-old patient, a resident of Kherson region, was hospitalized in April 2024 at the Odesa Regional Clinical Hospital for aortic valve replacement surgery. After the surgery, she needed a blood transfusion. However, the anesthesiologist failed to perform a biological test and transfused the woman with the second positive group, incompatible with her blood, instead of the first positive group.

As a result, the patient was diagnosed with acute kidney damage, which led to the need for hemodialysis and other urgent measures to stabilize her condition. The issue of suspending the doctor from performing his duties and choosing a preventive measure is currently being decided.

If proven guilty in court, the doctor faces disqualification from holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to five years, or correctional labor for up to two years, or restraint of liberty for up to two years, or even imprisonment for the same period.

Кирило Бойко