OVERDOSE OF DRUG

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1940, Page 3

OVERDOSE OF DRUG

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, December 5. “Legally paraldehyde is not a dangerous drug, and it is not included in the poisons or dangerous drugs schedule,” said Dr. E. F. D’Ath, pathologist at the Dunedin Hospital; in giving evidence at an inquest to-day into the death of Jeannie Reid Stewart, married, 35 years of age, which occurred at the Chalet Hospital on November 8, after an operation. Dr. D’Ath addled that he was of the opinion, however, that from the number of overdoses ,which had occurred from it, some greater control in its dispensing was .necessary, and he thought it should be /included in the first schedule of the Poisons Act. . After returning a verdict that death was due to circulatory failure, brought about by an overdose of paraldehyde, 'Mr. H. W. Bundle, Coroner, said that ,he thought it was his clear duty to add a rider that the police bring under the .notice of the Minister for Health the advisability of including it in the first schedule of the Poisons Act. The evidence showed that Mrs. S.tewart entered hospital on November 6to undergo an operation. During (the. operation it was noticed that the patient’s colour was changing, and shock developing. The anaesthetic was discontinued, and the operation quickly completed. It was learned subsequently that a sister, who at the time was on the hospital staff, had given the patient five ounces and a-half of paraldehyde, instead of five drachms and a-half. The mistake had arisen because this sister, in her former employment, had been accustomed to receiving paraldehyde in a dilut-

ed form, prepared under medical prescription for administration to a patient. This witness said that at the time she had no idea that she was administering the pure drug. Reviewing the evidence, the Coroner said that in effect the patient had been given about eight times the correct dose. It was very distressing for the husband and for the nurse who administered, maybe somewhat careLessily, an overdose; but he could only find that Mrs. Stewart died from circulatory failure brought about by an overdose of paraldehyde,' which was. administered for a necessary operaion.