I was given another patient's meds

[zipcoder]

I recently was in the hospital for surgery and in the middle of the night, a nurse woke me up to give me pain medication. I questioned why I was being given the medication because I wasn't in any pain and was told that my doctor had given orders that I automatically be given this pain medication around the clock. Later, when I was getting ready to be discharged another nurse tried to give me a shot for nausea, but I refused it saying that I didn't have any nausea. I later found out the nausea shot was supposed to be for the other patient in my room. When I saw my doctor, I asked him about the pain medication and he said that he had not given any orders that I be automatically given anything for pain. I believe that the pain medication I was given was supposed to be for the other patient also. She was an elderly woman who had been repeatedly asking for something for pain throughout the night. I contacted one attorney in my area but was told that because I didn't suffer any ill effects from the medication that there was nothing that could be done about it. Is this true? It scares me to think that a hospital can make a mistake like this without any repurcussions! This happened in Alabama.

 

[PamSJS]

Dear Zipcoder;

Unfortunately, this type of "mistake" happens more frequently than people know. Your attorney advised you correctly...unless you were injured, you have no legal claim.

That does not automatically get the hospital, or the nurse who gave you the medication, off the hook. If you know the nurses name, you can contact the Alabama State Board of Nursing in Montgomery and file a complaint against her. If this is just an isolated incident and no other complaints against the nurse have been filed, the board will notify her in writing that this information is being placed in her file. On the other hand, if she has a history of such "mistakes", the board may discipline her, possibly by suspending or revoking her license. (I used to be a nurse in AL, that's how I know all of this).

As for the hospital, contact the Alabama Department of Health and Human Services in Montgomery. File a formal complaint, and an investigation will be done. If the hospital is responsible for the mistake, they will be cited for deficiencies and required to submit a "Plan of Correction" to the dept.

Please, do not let this incident go unnoticed or unreported. It is only through people like you that these mistakes can be corrected. You may be saving someone elses life.

Pam

 

[HomeGuru]

I agree with PamSJS.

 

[LegalBeagle]

I agree with HomeGuru.

 

[PamSJS]

To: HomeGuru & LegalBeagle;

Gee, thanks guys! Does this mean you're no longer mad at me?

Pam

 

[HomeGuru]

We were never mad at you although once I though I had the mad cow disease but it was just a case of lbitis.

 

[LegalBeagle]

Did you know, because I lived briefly in the UK between 86 and 96, I am now not allowed to give blood in the US ? I mean, I think my blood would cure a great deal of mad people... well, it would send them crazy but at least they would no longer be mad..

PamJSJ, neither one of us can be mad at such a lovely creature as yourself..

 

[PamSJS]

Thank you, LegalBeagle. And, if makes you feel better, I would take YOUR blood, any day! In fact, I've been pretty mad here lately myself...maybe a good transfusion is just what I need!

 

[lawrat]

anyone heard of battery? needle shots? no consent. etc?