OVERDOSE OF DRUG.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 4

OVERDOSE OF DRUG.

Woman Hospital Patient’s | Death. “MOST UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE” | Per Press Association. J NAPIER, May 19. As the result of the administration { prior to an operation of an overdose of i paraldehyde, a married woman, Grace j Douglas Newport, aged twenty-nine, died in the Napier Public Hospital last Friday. At the inquest held yesterday, the jury returned a verdict to this effect, adding that it was most unfortunate that the mistake had had such serious consequences. Evidence was to the effect that the sister in charge of the medical ward had prepared a dose of nine ounces instead of the prescribed nine drams. Dr J. Allan Berry, who performed the operation, said he noticed that deceased was gravely ill for no apparent reason and he asked how much of the drug had been administered. He completed the operation and it was not till it 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 prepare and administer it. Could Hot Explain Mistake. Sister W. M. Cullwick stated that she was instructed 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 inquiries of the theatre nurses she found that nine ounces had been' prepared and administered. Witness did not suggest that the mistake was due to any omission on the dispenser's part. She was not able to give any idea of how the mistake occurred. Check Now in Force. Dr R. E.- Murray, house surgeon, who had been in Napier only two weeks, said he had received no verbal or written instructions as regards checking by him of his own directions given to the sister concerning the quantity, of a dose to be administered. Since; deceased died, however, he had received instructions. Following the evidence of other doctors, theatre nurses and the dispenser, Mr A. E. Renof, J.P., Coroner, said that deceased no doubt met her -death as the result of an overdose of paraldehyde, apparently administered in mistake. It was most unfortunate that the mistake had, in this case, had such a serious result. The jury retired for ten minutes and returned with a verdict as stated.