In recent news that our Rockville, Maryland medication error injury attorneys have been following, twelve Los Angeles-area hospitals were hit with administrative penalties this week by the California Department of Public Health, ranging from $25,000 up to $75,000, after the facilities were found to be non-compliant with requirements that were likely to cause serious injury or death to patients.
One medical center, Promises Hospital, was reportedly fined $50,000 for a medication mix-up that caused a patient with a heart condition to require emergency response.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a medication error was reported in 2010 that led to the inspection of Promises Hospital. The inspectors reportedly found that a patient was given a dose of Cardizem, the drug used to treat irregular heart rhythms, that was 10 times the ordered dose—causing the patient’s heart rate to drop so quickly that the nurse was unable to get a blood reading for almost 10 minutes.
According to the department, when problems are found in facilities, hospitals must take corrective actions to prevent any similar medication errors or other problems from happening in the future, and causing injury or death to patients.
Promises Hospital reportedly claimed that it has initiated an investigation into the drug error, and has taken the necessary steps to prevent this medication mix-up for happening again in the future.
In cities throughout the state of Maryland, contact Lebowitz and Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers today.
East L.A. hospital fined $50,000 for medication mix-up, Los Angeles Times, June 2, 2011
CDPH Issues Administrative Penalties to 12 Hospitals, California Department of Public Health, June 2, 2011
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, (ISMP)
Related Blog Posts:
New FDA Guidelines to Prevent Children’s OTC Medication Errors, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, June 1, 2011
Prescription Error Overdose Leads to Paralysis, Victim Hopeful for Recovery, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, May 19, 2011