When hospital measurements go wrong, patient safety is at stake!

Thursday, 15 October 2026 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A leading private hospital has raised serious concerns about the accuracy of its patient measurements.

Last week, when my wife visited the hospital for a DEXA scan, a nurse recorded her weight and height before the procedure. Subsequently, when we cross-checked these measurements at a clinic where she regularly attends medical check-ups, we discovered a staggering discrepancy: her weight had been overstated by 10kg, while her height had been understated by 7cm.

Was the weighing scale defective, or was this the result of human error or negligence? Whatever the explanation, such discrepancies warrant an immediate investigation. Accurate height and weight measurements are important clinical data, and errors can potentially affect medical assessments, dosage calculations where weight is relevant, and treatment decisions.

I therefore request the relevant authorities, including the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the appropriate health-sector regulatory bodies, to ensure that weighing scales and other measuring equipment used in hospitals are regularly inspected, calibrated and maintained, with staff properly trained to record measurements accurately.

I also appeal to the Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, to look into this matter and consider appropriate measures to safeguard patients from preventable errors. Private hospitals that charge substantial fees must be accountable for the accuracy, quality and reliability of the services they provide.

Patient safety must never be compromised by faulty equipment or inaccurate record-keeping.

Mohamed Zahran, Colombo