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IMS-BHU to discipline 14 staff after wrong-patient shift to OT; patient dies and hospital tightens ID procedures
A 71-year-old patient was mistakenly taken to the orthopaedics theatre due to a name mix-up with an 82-year-old patient. An incision was made before the error was discovered; the patient later died. An inquiry found negligence in patient identity verification, leading IMS-BHU to discipline staff and tighten identification protocols.
Why It Matters
The case highlights patient safety and accountability in surgical settings, and shows how hospitals respond with disciplinary action and procedural reforms after a near-miss and a fatality.
Timeline
6 Events
Hospital introduces stricter patient identification protocols
April 30, 2026
The institute mandated stricter patient identification protocols, including compulsory wrist tagging and verification procedures.
Disciplinary action against 14 IMS-BHU staff announced
April 30, 2026
IMS-BHU announced disciplinary action against 14 staff members from the orthopaedics, anaesthesia, neurosurgery and nursing departments related to the incident.
Death of patient on March 27, 2026
March 27, 2026
The patient died of cardiac arrest on March 27. The report stated the death cannot be directly attributed to the mistaken incision.
82-year-old patient underwent successful hip surgery
March 2026
The second patient (82-year-old) underwent a hip surgery, which was completed successfully.
Incision on hip made before realising error; incision stitched and patient moved back to neurosurgery
March 2026
An incision was made on the wrong patient’s hip before the error was detected. The incision was stitched and the patient was returned to neurosurgery, where the planned tumour operation proceeded.
Wrong-patient mix-up leads to shift to orthopaedics OT in March 2026
March 2026
Radhika Devi, a 71-year-old woman admitted for spinal tumour surgery, was mistakenly shifted to the orthopaedics operating theatre due to a name-based mix-up with an 82-year-old patient admitted for hip surgery; both were in the same pre-operative area.