UP Dengue Patient Given 'Poorly Preserved' Platelets, Not Juice: Govt Official

The patient died at the UP hospital after allegedly being transfused with mosambi juice instead of blood platelets.

The notice, served by the Prayagraj Development Authority, claimed that the hospital had been constructed illegally, and did not have an approved map of the premises.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint) 

A senior Uttar Pradesh government official on Wednesday, 26 October, denied the claims made by the kin of a dengue patient who died after he was allegedly given an intravenous (IV) drip comprising fruit juice.

Prayagraj District Magistrate Sanjay Khatri clarified that the patient had been administered an IV bag of "poorly preserved" platelets.

"We had formed a three-member team to probe the incident. Their report found that the patient had been given poorly preserved platelets. We are taking action based on this information," Khatri was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Earlier in the day, a demolition notice was served to the Global Hospital and Trauma Centre in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj amid uproar over the death of the dengue patient.

What Did the Notice Say? 

The notice, served by the Prayagraj Development Authority, claimed that the hospital had been constructed illegally, and did not have an approved map of the premises.

It stated that the owner of the building will have to file his reply within three days, and that if he did not or if the reply was not satisfactory, the demolition of the building will be carried forward.

It also said that a demolition notice had been served to the hospital earlier as well.

What Had Happened?

Pradeep Pandey, a resident of Bamrauli in Prayagraj, was admitted to the Global Hospital in Jhalwa after being diagnosed with dengue.

Family members of the deceased patient alleged that a packet of mosambi (sweet lime) juice was given to the patient in place of platelets, due to which his health worsened. A viral video made by the kin of the patient shows the packet of yellow liquid.

State authorities had sealed the hospital after the patient's death.

What the Hospital Said

The hospital has retaliated to the allegations, saying the platelets were procured by the relatives of the patient.

Nanak Saran, Chief Medical Officer of Prayagraj, told reporters that Pandey was first given three units of platelets. Later, five more units of platelets were arranged for transfusion, which led to a reaction.

Saurabh Mishra, the owner of the hospital, said that when the patient's platelets level dropped to 17,000, his relatives were asked to arrange blood platelets for him, reported news agency PTI.

"They brought five units of platelets from SRN Hospital. After transfusion of three units, the patient had a reaction. So we stopped it," he said.

(With inputs from NDTV.)