No conclusion yet in blood scandal
There was no shortage of police news over the four day holiday weekend: everything from drownings to stickups, traffic accidents, stabbings and a hit and run. But the crime we’ll lead with tonight occurred several weeks ago, and if you believe medical authorities, still has not been solved. Today we spoke to Director of Health Services Errol Vanzie, who explained that the investigation continues into how three patients at the K.H.M.H. were given transfusions from a single pint of HIV infected blood.
Errol Vanzie, Dir. Of Health Services
“The blood was tagged red, and the purpose for that is to indicate that the blood has not been screened and should not be used. But it was tagged red and sent across to K.H.M.H. because the test was not completed yet and it was after 5:00, so people at the Blood Bank had to leave. As part of the protocol, once the result are ready, then the Stat Lab at K.H.M.H. is informed and the blood is either removed and destroyed or declared safe for use.”
“Somewhere in the process there was a miscommunication and the blood was erroneously declared safe because the red tag was removed. As we indicate, we have continued to investigate the case, trying to pinpoint the exact link that failed. In the meanwhile, we have put contingency measures in place to prevent that from happening in the future.”
“We had a meeting this afternoon with the PAHO representative in trying to finalise the arrangement for the consultant to come in. This person will assist us in doing a comprehensive review in trying to identify weak areas and areas where there is the potential for errors to occur.”
“As you know, there are many elements involved here. You have the Blood Bank and the lab, then you have the Stat Lab at the K.H.M.H., and then the unit that actually transfuse the blood. In this whole process, communication can fail.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Have you gotten the results of the blood tests yet from New Orleans?”
Dr. Errol Vanzie
“Not yet, we expect that around the end of the week.”
Sources close to the investigation tell News 5 that within the hospital, lab and Blood Donor Service the blame game is on and finger pointing is rampant. At some point somebody in authority either mistakenly said the blood was safe or took a decision to use it, regardless of its uncertain status. Whoever is responsible, he, she or they face a massive liability, both financial and moral.
