One of the biggest responsibilities Louisiana medical professionals have is to dispense medication. In a hospital, where there is a litany of medications that are designed to treat a variety of ailments, it is not unusual for there to be a mistake when these are given. Some of these mistakes are especially dangerous and can cause a patient to suffer permanent damage and even die.
As an illustration of this risk, a Tennessee nurse was arrested recently after a patient’s death was determined to have been due to her egregious medication mistake. The investigation began in late 2018. There were concerns over the female patient’s death when it occurred at the end of December 2017. The patient had been admitted to the hospital complaining of headaches, brain swelling and other health issues.
A drug that is to help patients with anxiety was prescribed by a doctor. The nurse, however, gave a medication that functions as a neuromuscular blocking agent. It is commonly used when patients are having surgery and can lead to paralysis.
Authorities later discovered the nurse overrode a protective device to get the medication. Less than an hour later, a physician called for assistance as the patient had no pulse and was unresponsive. She died the next day.
When there is suspicion that a person was injured or died because of a medication error such as an overdose or the wrong one given, it is imperative for the family to pursue a full investigation. These errors happen across the nation, and keeping track of them regardless of where they happen shines a light on the risk. A law firm that has experienced in assisting people whose loved one suffered injury or wrongful death because of medication mistakes can assist in filing a lawsuit.
