NURSE'S FATAL ERROR

Evening Star, Issue 19020, 15 August 1925, Page 1

NURSE'S FATAL ERROR

BOY POISONED IN HOSPITAL How a. nurse's mistake in giving an overdose of strychnine caused the death of a boy patient of Biilcricay (Essex) isolation Hospital was told at an inquest there lately. The boy, Joseph Drage, aged 11, had been adm/ted sufferin'; from diphtheria. As the action of his heart was weak, the medical officer ordered him four minims of strychnine diluted i.u two teaspoonfuls of water. Nurse Dorothy Bell. n. young temporary nurse who was assisting in the ward, gave the drug, taking it from a bottle containing pure strychnine, but instead of giving the hoy four minims she gave him four drachms, or teaspooufuls, in two tcaspoonfuls of water. The boy died a Few minutes later. In her evidence Nurse 8011, who was >is -I inn + '-unable ami thoughtful nurse, said she had been ... ,;.il,._. ~IAV..I.IIK' 11V the drachm, and she made fho mistake of giving drachms instead of minims. Bho did not realise this until too late. The instructions were given her properly. Dr Douglas Wells, the officer, said lie considered Nurse Bell quite capable. of administering the strychnine. 1 ’ 1 ’y qualified, she'was quite experienced. imi .. ichiming a verdict of death by misadventure, expressed sympathy with Nurse Bell,