Fatal Consequences: Medication Mix-up Claims Life at Lexington Hospital
An 81-year-old patient died at CHI Saint Joseph Health Main in Lexington due to a medication mix-up, according to a coroner's report. The patient was mistakenly given Naturalyte, a dialysis liquid, instead of a colonoscopy prep medication. The nursing board's investigation revealed multiple process failures, including a barcode scanning issue and a workaround that led to the administration of the wrong medication. The nurse involved was not disciplined by the nursing board, but concerns were raised about not visually double-checking the medication's label. The incident has prompted discussions about the complexities of healthcare, the over-reliance on technology, and the need for human vigilance in preventing medication errors. The Kentucky Board of Pharmacy is currently investigating the incident.