Medics overdose woman with four times more medicine than prescribed
A man has received a five figure sum in compensation after medical negligence resulted in the death of his wife.
The man’s 79 year old wife had been receiving treatment for her kidney problem at St Helier Hospital and was later prescribed magnesium sulphate after staff at the hospital stated that she had returned to good health.
However, she was given four times as much of the medicine as prescribed and died 15 minutes after the overdose.
He then received a five figure sum in compensation after filing a medical negligence claim against the hospital and St Helier NHS Trust.
The man said: "There are still nagging doubts in my mind and questions that the trust has not answered. A hospital is only as good as its staff and that is what lets it down."
A trust spokesman said: “We offer our sincerest apologies to the family and friends of [the woman].
This was a tragic accident. We have learned lessons from it and will do everything possible to make sure it never happens again.”
The man said: “No amount of money in the world that is going to bring my wife back.”
Updated on 26/06/2009