Video Transcript
Medication mistakes can be tragic. In fact, this medication error has resulted in a reckless homicide charge against a nurse, who pled not guilty to the charge.
Paralyzing drug given instead of a sedative
As the Associated Press and other news outlets reported, the nurse allegedly injected a 75-year-old lady with paralytic anesthetic, Vecuronium instead of Versed, a sedative.
The nurse supposedly chose to override safeguards when she could not find Versed in the automatic dispensing cabinet. She then typed “VE” into the cabinet system and selected the first medication, Vecuronium, that came up on the list. The drug she used ended up killing Charlene Murphy.
The nurse’s license has been suspended, and her criminal trial has been set for March of next year.
Medication errors can be avoided
This happens much more than it should. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration states that it receives more than 100,000 reports annually about suspected medication errors. It’s also estimated that medication errors harm an estimated 1.5 million people each year.
Every one of these people has a story to be told about an error that could have been avoided. Unfortunately, these types of mistakes happen every day across South Carolina; hopefully, without tragic consequences.
