FATAL ERROR.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20550, 19 May 1932, Page 14

FATAL ERROR.

w PATIENT GIVEN OVERDOSE OF DRUG. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. l.rjl£SS ASSOCIATION TEiEGRIM.) NAPIEB, May 18. A verdict that Mrs Grace Douglas Newport, aged 29, who died in the .Vapier Hospital oil Friday last, had met her death as a result of the administration prior to an operation of an overdose of paraldehyde inadvertently administered as an anaesthetic, was returned by the jury at the inquest to-day. The members of the hospital staff concerned and Mrs Newport's relatives vr'ere represented by counsel. Evidence was given to the effect that the sister in charge of the medical ward, had prepared a dose of nine ounceß instead of the prescribed nine drams. Dr. J. Allan Berry, who performed tho operation, said lie noticed that the woman was gravely ill for no apparent reason, and asked how much of the drug had been administered. He completed the operation, and it was not t-illjit was over that he formed the conclusion that an overdose had been given. He then questioned the sister, who told him that nine ounces of paraldehyde had been administered. It was not improper for the sister to preparo and administer it. Sister W. M. Cullwic-k said that she was inctructed to prepare nine drams of paraldehyde. The instructions were in writing.' She then applied for the drug intending to ask for nine drams, but for some reason she could not explain she asked for nine ounces. She told Dr. Berry after the operation that she had prepared nine drams, but after enquiries of the theatre nurses found, that nine ounces had been prepared and administered. Witness said she did not suggest that Ihe mistake was owing to any omission ,on the dispenser's part. She was not able to give any idea of how the mistake occurred. Dr. B. E. Murray, house surgeon, who had been in Napier for only two weeks, said he had received no verbal or written instructions •as regards _ cheeking by him of his own directions ; given to the sister concerning the quan- . rity of the dose to be administered. ■ Since Mrs Newport's death, however, he had received instructions. Following the evidence of other doet tors, the theatre nurses, and the dis- : penser, Mr A. E. Benouf, J.P., Coroner, i said that Mrs Newport no doubt met her I death as a result of an overdose of j paraldehyde apparently administered •in mistake. It was most unfortunate i that the mistake had had such a serioub result. ' " , The jury retired.for ten minutes, and : i returned a verdict as stated.