GEORGE TOWN: Swollen with bubbles popping out on the left leg.
This is what a four-month-old baby had to endure following a blood transfusion at Penang Hospital.
Muhammad Zain Al Fateh Muhammad Faizal Amri was receiving a treatment after his blood pressure dropped while under the knife for hernia at the hospital at 3pm yesterday.
His father Muhammad Faizal Amri Abdul Ghani, 25, said his baby boy was born prematurely at Seberang Jaya Hospital and was transferred here after being diagnosed with hernia.
The baby underwent blood transfusion after experiencing low blood pressure after the hernia operation which was concluded at 7pm yesterday.
“Blood transfusion was done several times on him at the Seberang Jaya Hospital before and there was no problem.
“The doctor here claimed the nurse accidentally inserted the needle into the blood vessel, resulting in the swelling and bubble-like leg, as I was told earlier today.
“What is more frustrating is that the doctors and the nurses are blaming each other. The doctors claimed the nurses did it and the nurses said otherwise, and they argued in front of me,” said the businessman when contacted by the NSTP.
The unfortunate state of the baby went viral on social media after his grandfather Abdul Ghani Abdul Wahid uploaded it on his Facebook account. As of 7pm today, it was shared by over 3,000 people.
Muhammad Faizal Amri said they were told that the baby’s leg had to be incised to remove the blood clot but he is reportedly in a stable condition.
“The hospital claimed the incident happened because of the baby’s movement. But he was still unconscious after a jab following the hernia operation.
“My baby is still under anaesthetic jab to minimise the pain after the operation. However, I am worried the anaesthetics might affect his growth.
“The hospital also said we can sue within three years from now. So I will lodge a police report later and am contemplating to take legal action against Penang Hospital for negligence,” he added.
Meanwhile, state Health Department director Datuk Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah said in a statement that the baby is stable after receiving treatment and being monitored from time to time.
“A meeting with the parents for clarifications was done today. They can also reach our department or the hospital management if they have any queries,” he said.