Medication Error Lawsuit Against Mass General Garners Press Attention

Andrew C. Meyer, Jr. medical malpractice plaintiffs attorney has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Massachusetts General Hospital and several of its doctors and nurses on behalf of the family of a 76-year-old woman who died following a medication error while she was an inpatient being treated for a minor infection after breaking her shoulder.

A Boston Globe article that carried the story on March 10, 2011 (MGH faces suit over drug error that killed woman), notes that "prescription dose errors have long been the single leading cause of fatal medication mistakes." The article states:

According to a report the hospital provided to the family, “the day nurse understood the intended dosing but made an error when entering the dose into the IV pump.’’

The report added, “This excessive medication dose was preventable and a result of a failure of systems within the hospital’s control.’’

WCVBTV Channel 5, quoted Attorney Meyer saying,

"This was a systemic failure within the hospital, within the nursing practices of the hospital and with the doctor's oversight responsibility — clear negligence on behalf of the hospital and the doctors and nurses involved."

The hospital has admitted it made mistakes and has apologized and plans to institute changes. In the Globe article, Meyer indicated he was hopeful the hospital would make changes but had no knowledge if that had happened. Said Meyer,

“As the claim proceeds, one of our goals will be to ensure that [the hospital's proposed system] changes for the protection of patients are enacted and adhered to.’’

To read more about this case, please see the Boston Globe article and the coverage of the lawsuit on TheBostonChannel.com.

Lubin & Meyer PC - New Hampshire's Leader in Medical Malpractice Law