OVERDOSE OF DRUG GIVEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 6 December 1940, Page 2

OVERDOSE OF DRUG GIVEN

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST SUGGESTED INCLUSION IN POISONS SCHEDULE (United Press Association] DUNEDIN. sth December, i “Legally paraldehyde is not a dangerous drug and it is not included in the poisons or dangerous drugs schedule,” declared Dr. D’Ath, pathologist at Dunedin Hospital, in giving evidence at an inquest to-day touching on the i death of Jeannie Reid Stewart, married i woman, aged 35, which took place at the 'Chalet Hospital on Bth November fol- ! lowing an operation. Dr. D’Ath added j that he was of opinion, however, that from the number of over.doses 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 Bundle, S.M., said that he thought it was his clear duty to add a rider that the police bring under the notice of the Minister of Health the advisability of including the drug in the first schedule of the Poisons Act. Evidence showed that Mrs Stewart entered hospital on 6th November to 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 learnt subsequently that a sister who at the time was on the hospital staff had given the patient 5A ounces of paraldehyde instead of 5£ drachms. The mistake had arisen because this sister, in her former employment, had been accustomed to receiving paraldehyde in diluted form prepared under medical prescription for administration to a patient. This witness said that at the time she had no idea she was administering the pure drug. Reviewing the evidence the corner 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 carelessly, an overdose, but he could only find that deceased died from circulatory failure brought about by an ovei'dose of paraldehyde, which was administered for a necessary operation.