Catching Deadly Drug Mistakes

Catching Deadly Drug Mistakes

A nurse misunderstands an abbreviation on a pharmacy order, and gives an accidental overdose of a drug that slows the heart rate, killing the patient. Intravenous fluids are administered after surgery at too-high a rate to a child, who then dies because of the error. Confusion over a drug name leads to insulin being added to infant nutrition IV solutions instead of the intended medication, heparin, an anti-clotting drug: The consequences are fatal.