Ms. Oswald was admitted to Massachusetts General last November when she developed an infection after breaking her shoulder. Without any physician oversight, a nurse gave a fatally high dose of the blood thinner Lepirudin, which caused Ms. Oswald to bleed internally for approximately 12 hours before she died. Hospital officials admitted the mistake and said the fatal error was preventable, according to the news report.
The family’s lawsuit against the hospital also specifically names five physicians and two nurses who were involved in Ms. Oswald’s care during her hospital stay. According to hospital officials, the hospital made specific changes to prevent such an event from happening again. Documentation also showed the physicians and nurses in question do not have a history of complaints or discipline, according to the news report.
Read the news report about the lawsuit against Massachusetts General Hospital.
Read other coverage about medication errors and safety:
– Ensure Safe Medication Practices in a Surgery Center: Practical Solutions and Rules Overview
– Healthcare Costs Soar for ED Patients Admitted for Adverse Drug Events
– Patient Safety Tool: Guide to Increasing Reporting of Potential Medical Errors
