Wrong dosage results in overdose of weeks-old infant

New York patients trust that their physicians and pharmacists provide them with the accurate dosage of medication to help them recover from an illness. Unfortunately, a wrong dosage medication error and overdoses can occur due to the negligence of health care providers. When this occurs, health care providers need to be held liable for the harm that they have caused. For one family in another state, they are finding out just how devastating a medication error can be.

A woman gave birth to a baby boy five weeks early. After turning one month old, the mother noticed that he was much fussier than usual and decided to take him to the hospital to be examined. The hospital informed her that her baby boy was suffering from a viral infection known as meningitis. The parents believed this would be a treatable condition.

Unfortunately, the hospital pharmacist made an error when prescribing the medicine that the baby needed for the treatment of his meningitis. He was administered 280 milligrams of the prescribed medicine, which is much more than the recommended maximum dosage of 168 milligrams over the course of 24 hours. Within hours, the baby began to experience swelling of the brain, and his heart stopped beating. Right now, the six-week-old baby is breathing only because of a ventilator, although he does have a small amount of brain function.

At this time, the hospital is denying the fact that the infant's injuries are a result of the medication error and overdose. They are allegedly blaming his injuries on the meningitis. Medical mistakes, such as the wrong dosage being administered, can have a devastating impact on the patient and their families. When medical negligence occurs in New York, patients and families should not simply turn a cold shoulder to the situation. People in a similar situation may wish to exercise their legal rights and possibly pursue reimbursement for damages related to the medication error.

Source: NBC Los Angeles, Weeks-Old Baby Overdosed During Meningitis Treatment: Parents, Vikki Vargas, Jan. 2, 2014