quote:

Human dosing error kills 2 infants in Indiana
Premature infants given adult amounts of blood thinner, hospital says

INDIANAPOLIS - Two premature infants died after receiving adult doses of a blood thinner, a hospital said Sunday, blaming the incident on human error.

Four other infants in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit of Methodist Hospital also received adult doses of Heparin, and one might need surgery, said Sam Olde, chief executive of Methodist and Indiana University Hospitals. The other three were in serious condition.

Two babies born at 25 and 26 weeks’ gestation died Saturday night, Odle said. Both were born in the last week, officials said. A full-term pregnancy lasts 38 to 42 weeks.

“These are very, very small babies,” Odle said. “We are confident that no other infants except for the six were affected.”

Heparin is routinely used in premature infants to prevent blood clots that could clog intravenous drug tubes, said Dr. James Lemons, a neonatologist at Riley Hospital for Children.

An overdose could cause severe internal bleeding, he said.

Hospital officials had met with family members, Odle said, adding: “Our hearts go out to the families.”

But apologies did not satisfy Whitney Alexander, mother of one of the infants who died.

“They may apologize but it didn’t help,” she told WTHR-TV in Indianapolis. “It didn’t help, because I feel like whoever the nurse was on call, they should know what they were doing and how much my baby should have.”

The hospital was investigating how the error occurred and reviewing its drug-handling procedures. Some corrective steps had already been taken, Odle said.

“This was human error — that’s all,” Odle said.

Pharmacy technicians place pre-packaged vials in a computerized drug cabinet, where they are retrieved by nurses who then administer the drugs, Odle said. The adult and infant doses are packaged similarly, and the hospital will contact the manufacturer to see if there is any way to make the packaging more distinct.

Autopsies were to be performed Monday.

Babies born before the completion of week 37 are considered premature. Those born before 32 weeks face the greatest risk of death — about one-fifth don’t survive a year — and disabilities including cerebral palsy and retardation.

quote:

Hospital drug error paralyzes new mom
Same Indianapolis facility recently gave lethal doses to 3 preemies

INDIANAPOLIS - A hospital that gave lethal doses of a drug to three premature babies has made another medication mistake, giving a new mother a painkiller 10 times faster than intended and making her temporarily unable to walk.

Amber Baise, 18, of Indianapolis, who received the painkiller during childbirth, has regained some movement in her legs as she recovers from what Methodist Hospital on Friday called a doctor’s mistake.

“We remain hopeful that she will receive a full recovery. That is our hope. That is our commitment,” said Bill Stephan, a spokesman for Clarian Health Partners, which operates Methodist and Indiana University’s hospitals.

Baise entered Methodist on Oct. 8 to give birth to her first child and a doctor started her on an epidural. An improperly programmed pump gave her 10 hours worth of painkiller in just one hour.

Baise delivered a healthy girl.

The doctor who made the error works for an anesthesia practice that contracts with Methodist. The doctor has decades of experience and a good record, Stephan said. He did not release the doctor’s name.

Baise’s attorney, Nathaniel, said the physician’s good record was irrelevant.

“There are certain mistakes that you can’t make, that you shouldn’t make, regardless of your education, regardless of your training, and this is the kind of mistake that you shouldn’t make,” Lee said.