By Ben Wasserman
Jul 9, 2008 - 2:12:07 PM
Source: http://foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/Other_N_ews_51/070902122008_17_Texas_infants_o WEDNESDAY July 9, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- At least 17 infants in Texas have been mistakenly given overdoses of heparin in a hospital, resulting in at least one death and another in critical condition.
An autopsy is planned to determine whether the blood thinner played a rule in the death.
The accident reportedly occurred in the Christus Spohn Hospital South Pharmacy, according to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, cited by Los Angeles Times.
It is unknown how this type of incident occurred.
Cases like this were reported early in Los Angeles and Indianapolis. The newborn twins of actor Dennis Quaid were given overdoses of heparin at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles placing the infants at high risk of death.
The actor testified early before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform asking the lawmakers to hold drug makers responsible for medical incidents like what his babies suffered.
In the actor’s case, the labeling for heparin is too confusing that nurses mixed the high dose package with the low dose package because both are too similar to tell the difference.
A drug company is by law not to take any responsibility for any injury caused by a drug or treatment as long as the product is manufactured by the standards approved by the federal health regulators, namely the FDA.
Another horrifying piece of news: Homeless people die after bird flu vaccine trial in Poland
Three doctors and six nurses are being probed after a number of homeless people died after participating in medical trials for a vaccine indicated against H5N1 bird flu virus.
The medical staff conducted a trial of as many as 350 homeless and poor people last year, according to telegraph.co.uk, on the efficacy of what prosecutors say was an untried anti-bird flu virus drug.
Authorities allege that the victims received a few dollars to be tested with they thought was a conventional flu vaccine, but actually was an H5N1 bird flu vaccine.
Heparin is an anticoagulant drug indicated to prevent blood clots. It is commonly used in surgery.
