A Filipina nurse has been awarded a suspended 18-month sentence in England over a blood transfusion mistake that caused the death of a 76-year-old patient.
Lea Ledesma was found guilty of manslaughter through gross negligence, reported ABS-CBN News.
Ledesma was working as an intensive care unit nurse at the University College Hospital.
According to court documents, she caused the transfusion of type AB blood to a patient with type O blood on May 7, 2014. The patient died later that evening.
A post-mortem examination of the patient reportedly revealed that the death was caused by the administration of an incompatible unit of blood.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith of the Southwark Crown Court suspended Ledesma’s sentence, citing good character and remorse. Her character references and family’s presence at court also contributed to the mitigation of her sentence, said the news portal.
Ledesma was represented by Anthony David Metzer of Goldsmith Chambers, reported ABS-CBN News. Her suspended sentence for two years means that she will undergo probation.
If she does not break the law during the two-year period and fulfills the conditions of her probation, the judge may dismiss the prison sentence of one year and six months, the report said.
