Third baby dies at IN hospital

A third premature baby died at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after receiving an adult dose of a blood thinner 1,000 times stronger than what the babies should have received. In all, six babies were given the improper dosage; the remaining three are expected to survive. An experienced pharmacy technician accidentally delivered the wrong dose of the blood thinner heparin; the adult and child's doses are stored in containers that look almost exactly the same.

Methodist Hospital has taken steps to ensure that the mistake never happens again. Clarian Health Systems, which owns Methodist, will no longer carry the confusing heparin vials. In addition, "hospital pharmacies must double-check all drugs taken from stockrooms before delivering them to the floors, and at least two nurses must validate doses before they're given to an infant," the Indianapolis Star reports. One can't help but feel that it's a case of too little too late, though. Other hospitals would be wise to learn from Methodist's unfortunate error, to prevent this kind of tragedy in the future.

For more on the medical error at Methodist:
- read this article from the IndyStar
- and this IndyStar report 

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