Dennis Quaid's twins get accidental overdose

[CarpeDiem]

Apparently, the proper dose and the screw-your-child-up for life dose look exactly alike - make one of them red or something. It's not that a hard.

Exactly.

 

[southcitymom]

Every baby born in the US doesn't routinely get that drug that way, it was used for the IV line they already had - unless a baby needs an IV (which they don't routinely), it won't happen to them.

Thanks for clearing that up, Carpe. I thought I had read that every baby received a dose (guess my mind slipped past the "with an IV" part)!

 

[southcitymom]

Exactly.

Yep - still doesn't change me mind about that!

 

[jilly]

The lawyer for the Quaids' was just on Greta and G asked her why they weren't suing the hospital. After explaining about this labeling she (lawyer) said after a few deaths it appeared the hospital wasn't going to do anything about it so we are so that it doesn't happen again.

I still don't get why they won't sue the hospital at all.

 

[angelmom]

The lawyer for the Quaids' was just on Greta and G asked her why they weren't suing the hospital. After explaining about this labeling she (lawyer) said after a few deaths it appeared the hospital wasn't going to do anything about it so we are so that it doesn't happen again.

I still don't get why they won't sue the hospital at all.

The hospital may be a "not for profit" and/or judgement proof.

I don't know.

But you'd think that after the very first time this happened, the drug manufacturer would have changed the label and waved BIG multicolored warning flags to let everyone know about the risk.

I mean, we're getting all irritated with Hershey about making candy that looks like a drug, but an actual drug manufacturer can't be bothered to come up with 2 different labels? Are they saving money on ink and graphic design or what?

I think the Quaids are going for the change that will make the most difference in the least amount of time to prevent future accidents. Medical mistakes are a fact of life. Human error is a given. But the label can be changed easily, cheaply, and quickly. It is not a big deal. It should have been done a long time ago.

 

[newkid]

The manufacturer did change the label, before all this happened with the Quaids. From the Yahoo story I posted earlier, "This fall, the company changed its heparin packaging by adding a red caution label that must be torn off before the vial can be opened."

The Quaids are taking issue with older bottles still on the shelf at the hospital.

 

[southcitymom]

The manufacturer did change the label, before all this happened with the Quaids. From the Yahoo story I posted earlier, "This fall, the company changed its heparin packaging by adding a red caution label that must be torn off before the vial can be opened."

The Quaids are taking issue with older bottles still on the shelf at the hospital.

Gotcha!

 

[CarpeDiem]

The manufacturer did change the label, before all this happened with the Quaids. From the Yahoo story I posted earlier, "This fall, the company changed its heparin packaging by adding a red caution label that must be torn off before the vial can be opened."

The Quaids are taking issue with older bottles still on the shelf at the hospital.

And, according to GMA this morning, the size of the bottles, so that by touch the nurses would know the difference also.

 

[Malapoo]

I work in the animal medical field and I can say I am COMPLETELY in favor of IDIOT PROOFING as much as possible. Haven't you ever had one of those days when you were not as sharp as usual and at the end of the day thought "boy was I stupid today?". Yes everyone SHOULD be extra careful and check and double check, but the fact is no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes at some point in their life.

Some of our drugs recently have changed their labels so they now look exactly like another drug! STUPID. I am paranoid about those things, but I can tell you there are people I work with who could EASILY make a mistake - in fact one drug that should always be refrigerated was put in a cabinet recently because it looks exactly like another that doesn't need refrigeration so into the trash a brand new bottle went! And it's not really that those people are bad or stupid - one is ADD - should we make the ADD folks of the world unemployable?

I'm not excusing the human error here, but drug companies should do everything possible to make these types of situations not happen.

 

[Marthatex]

The manufacturer did change the label, before all this happened with the Quaids. From the Yahoo story I posted earlier, "This fall, the company changed its heparin packaging by adding a red caution label that must be torn off before the vial can be opened."

The Quaids are taking issue with older bottles still on the shelf at the hospital.

So their beef is that the drug company didn't recall the old ones?

I have a feeling a "Quality Control" administrator or someone fell down on the job, the chain of command at the hospital and didn't throw out the old medicine, and warn everyone of the change.

I bet the drug company sent out a memo, and it was just ignored. People can't be perfect, but on the other hand, alot of people "fall down on the job" these days.

I wonder if the other victim is suing?

 

[Marthatex]

I work in the animal medical field and I can say I am COMPLETELY in favor of IDIOT PROOFING as much as possible. Haven't you ever had one of those days when you were not as sharp as usual and at the end of the day thought "boy was I stupid today?". Yes everyone SHOULD be extra careful and check and double check, but the fact is no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes at some point in their life.

Some of our drugs recently have changed their labels so they now look exactly like another drug! STUPID. I am paranoid about those things, but I can tell you there are people I work with who could EASILY make a mistake - in fact one drug that should always be refrigerated was put in a cabinet recently because it looks exactly like another that doesn't need refrigeration so into the trash a brand new bottle went! And it's not really that those people are bad or stupid - one is ADD - should we make the ADD folks of the world unemployable?]] end quote

How can they know what color ever other drug company's labeling is. Do the companies coordinate on their labeling of similar drugs?

I guess it's amazing more mistakes aren't made.

 

[nanandjim]

So their beef is that the drug company didn't recall the old ones?

I have a feeling a "Quality Control" administrator or someone fell down on the job, the chain of command at the hospital and didn't throw out the old medicine, and warn everyone of the change.

I bet the drug company sent out a memo, and it was just ignored. People can't be perfect, but on the other hand, alot of people "fall down on the job" these days.

I wonder if the other victim is suing?

I think that it is ridiculous to sue the drug company. I think that it was the hospital and its personnel who made the mistake.

 

[Taximom]

I think that it is ridiculous to sue the drug company. I think that it was the hospital and its personnel who made the mistake.

I agree. While it would certainly HELP to have different packaging etc., in the end someone didn't do their job the right way. Thank God those little babies are going to be o.k. I saw several other families on tv this morning who had babies that died or were damaged permanently by the same error.

 

[jilly]

The hospital may be a "not for profit" and/or judgement proof.

I don't know.

Yes they are non-profit. I think you can still sue them even though you might not get anywhere. At least they would be named. Maybe the drug co will add them as a Third Party.

I still think the hospital should be partly liable. They must have insurance. It would seem that it's a combination of errors here. Worst of all, imo, at the hospital, two pharmacy techs put the vials on the wrong shelf and the nurses failed to check the dosage. Plus the hospital admits this!

 

[eve]

I think that it is ridiculous to sue the drug company. I think that it was the hospital and its personnel who made the mistake.

I agree, if the company had added a red warning and the hospital chose to use up their old supply (probably to save money) it is hospital and/or employee negligence. The knew or should have known - this was forseeable harm. The drug company just has deeper pockets, typical lawyer's decision. That is the real reason they chose to name them instead of the hospital. The goal of the suit should be to prevent further harm. If Dennis and Kimberly really have that as their goal, why not insist on naming the hospital? Has the hospital done something to ensure Dennis' and Kimberly's loyalty? It's not like they "need" the money to deal with the infants' medical care as a result of this, do they?

Eve

 

[close_enough]

i haven't heard if the babies are at home or not...glad they both survived this ordeal though

 

[Mygirlsadie]

That's what confuses me too Martha... My son was in the Neonatal ICU for 5 months in San Antonio. The nurses always ALWAYS had another nurse verify their meds. My little one was on so many diff. meds everyday and every single time it was re-checked before they gave it to him. They never ''relaxed''...

I think this is a very accurate assessment, from what we know. It does seem it was employee error too, but I don't really know all the facts.

Usually there is a system though, for labeling and stocking the drugs. If the packaging was too much alike - I have know idea; but my husband feels there is NO excuse for having an adult dosage in the pediatric ward.

He says it's better to be in an "all childrens'" or OB hospital; but of course we don't always have access to that. The Dell children's center is pretty great here.

I don't really know what kind of hospital the California hospital was, or how good it's neonatal ICU is. I'm sure this was a neonatal ICU, and you just HAVE to have the top employees and performance there. There is little to no room for mistake, period, with infants. They are ACUTE care.

I hope they settle also, but whoever needs to make changes makes them, -drug co. or employees, or hospital staff.

I don't go for "frivolous" lawsuits at all. Maybe when the Quaids realize their babies are just fine, they will withdraw the suit if it's not valid.

 

[deanws]

The manufacturer did change the label, before all this happened with the Quaids. From the Yahoo story I posted earlier, "This fall, the company changed its heparin packaging by adding a red caution label that must be torn off before the vial can be opened."

The Quaids are taking issue with older bottles still on the shelf at the hospital.

Then they should be suing the hospital for wrong doing instead of the manufactures. I really think they are angry and while I understand why, I don't understand the reason they are suing the wrong person IMO. I really hope the babies grow up without having any long term disabilities. This whole situation is really sad. I agree that it is not about the money...it is about wanting to change the way the medication is labeled and handled.

 

[deanws]

I agree. While it would certainly HELP to have different packaging etc., in the end someone didn't do their job the right way.

Exactly! I feel the same way. I think we live in a sue happy world and we also are always looking for "reasons" we screwed up. I feel bad for the person who made this mistake. I sure wouldn't want to have to live with that kind of guilt the rest of my life. It was a careless error and if ANYONE should be sued...it is the hospital and the worker who made this error. I am so happy the babies didn't die.

 

[CarpeDiem]

This drug packaged this way was never recalled by the company which would have sent an URGENT warning to ALL health care professionals - Even after the earlier problems and deaths clearly associated with their oversight on the packaging. This suit will not only hold them responsible for that, but will and has finally sent that URGENT ALERT - get rid of the bottles with the old blue packaging, anywhere where these small patients are treated.