After spending several weeks in intensive care and in critical condition following a wrong blood transfusion at Tzaneio Hospital, a 62-year-old woman has today (02.07.2025) been declared brain dead by medical professionals. The incident occurred due to a miscommunication among nursing staff, where a 30-year-old hospital employee administered the incorrect blood type — a transfusion she didn’t even require.
As a result, the patient suffered spasms, vomiting, and multiple cerebral injuries. She remained in this condition for 45 minutes before finally receiving emergency treatment. During the last month, she was hospitalized in serious condition in an ICU, with doctors fighting to keep her alive. Initially, the best-case scenario was that she would wake up from the coma but with severe health complications. However, after a series of tests, it was confirmed that the 62-year-old is now brain dead, according to SKAI news reports.
Family members, who claim they were only informed hours after the incident, have courageously decided to proceed with organ donation, giving life to others in need through the organs of their loved one.
The investigation into the case revealed eight critical failures, including violations of blood transfusion protocols and malfunctioning medical equipment. It appears the woman, admitted as a mild neurological case, ended up at risk of death due to a broken printer and poor communication between nursing staff.
The nurse responsible for the transfusion was not under direct supervision by a senior nurse or doctor, contrary to standard protocol. Additionally, neither the 62-year-old nor other patients in the same room had identification wristbands due to the broken printer on the fifth floor of the neurology clinic. This led to confusion regarding patient identities and medical details.
Further errors followed, including miscommunication between shifts, which resulted in incorrect bed numbering. After the transfusion, the patient lay unattended for nearly an hour until another patient’s relative noticed her deteriorating condition and alerted medical staff.
Initial analysis cited nurse fatigue as a possible cause, though subsequent findings indicated that shift schedules had been properly maintained.