Transfusion Error in Janio Hospital: Protocols Ignored and Patient Critically Affected

The shocking incident of the wrong blood transfusion to a 62-year-old patient at Janio Hospital was not solely due to a nurse’s mistake. In reality, it represents the tip of an iceberg of protocol violations and systemic failures. According to the official protocol of the National Blood Center (EKEA), blood transfusions in a hospital setting must be conducted in the presence of a doctor. However, on the fateful night from Tuesday to Wednesday (June 4, 2025), at 3 a.m., no doctor was present during the transfusion for the 62-year-old patient. This critical omission paved the way for the tragic error. Elena Tsagkara, the interim president of EKEA’s Board of Directors, stated, ‘The presence of a doctor during the transfusion is not just a recommendation; it is a mandatory part of the protocol. The fact that this was violated deeply concerns us and is currently under proper investigation.’ Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis admitted that strict protocols for blood transfusions were not followed. He emphasized that the responsible party would face severe consequences and stressed that this isolated incident of negligence does not define the entire Greek healthcare system. An inquiry by ODIPY and EKEA has been ordered by the Ministry of Health, alongside an Official Sworn Administrative Investigation (EDD) from the hospital side. However, no convincing answers have emerged regarding who authorized the transfusion, why no doctor was present, and how such a serious medical event occurred at 3 a.m. without a second blood check or verification. Meanwhile, the 62-year-old woman remains critically but stable in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Her son described the family’s shock, accusing the hospital of ruining his mother’s health. The nurse involved reportedly admitted to the mistake, stating they got confused due to the arrangement of beds in the pathological clinic. However, questions remain about why identification checks failed.