Duhok mother dies after alleged blood transfusion error

18-05-2025
Rudaw
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A woman in northern Duhok province who has been in a coma since giving birth to her seventh child due to an alleged blood transfusion error has passed away. 

Shilan Ismail, 38, and a mother of six, was admitted to Zakho’s maternity hospital to give birth to her seventh child since early May. She later became unconscious and fell into a coma after her family alleged she received incompatible blood.

After 17 days of being unconscious, Shilan passed away on Saturday, the hospital told Rudaw. 

Zakho’s prosecutor general has issued arrest warrants for six people - including two doctors and three nurses - for alleged negligence in connection with the incident. 

In early May, Ismail’s cousin Yasin Abdulrahman told Rudaw that the doctors had given Ismail A+ blood despite her blood type being B+. 

The family told Rudaw that they will pursue legal action after funeral processions for Ismail are completed. 

Zakho’s health directorate has formed a committee to investigate the incident. 

Receiving incompatible blood can trigger a reaction where the immune system attacks the transfused blood cells. Symptoms may include fever, chills, back pain, low blood pressure, kidney failure, shock, or even death if not treated promptly.
 

Comments

Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.

To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.

We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.

Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.

Post a comment

Required
Required
 

The Latest

Ranj Sangawi. Graphic: Rudaw

Rudaw raises nearly $4.5 million in record time to aid for Kurdistan flood relief

Rudaw’s lead anchor Ranj Sangawi on Sunday raised more than 5.88 billion Iraqi dinars - nearly $4.5 million - from just over a dozen Kurdish businessmen in less than two hours to support victims of recent flooding in the Kurdistan Region, with the total expected to grow as the fundraising campaign continues.