Seventeen babies in a Corpus Christi, Texas hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit were given overdoses of the blood thinner heparin over the weekend. Christus Spohn Hospital South discovered the mishap on Sunday, two days after most of the newborns were believed to have been given the drug. President and CEO of the hospital, Bruce Holstein, blames the medical error on the mixing process at the hospital’s pharmacy.
So far, twelve babies are in stable condition, three have gone home with their parents, one was readmitted in critical condition, and one has died. Dr. Richard Davis, chief medical officer for the health system, states that the infant who died was ill and the hospital is unsure if the high dose of heparin played a role in the death.
Heparin is an anticoagulant given to patients to prevent clotting during surgery or during dialysis. Heparin has been in the news several times in the last few months as a result of tainted lots from China, as well as the high-profile heparin overdose given to actor Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins November.
If your newborn has been given an overdose of medication while still in the hospital, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.
