A 68-YEAR-OLD woman died from a severe allergic reaction to a drug containing sulphur prescribed to her by a doctor, despite 14 separate notes alerting hospital staff of her condition.

She was admitted for a cataract operation, but within hours was dying after being given a 250mg dose of Diamox.  The pill, containing sulphonamides, was administered despite the patient’s medical file containing at least 14 documents in which her allergy to sulphur-based medications was recorded.

A red alert bracelet indicating a patient had allergies was also worn on the patient’s wrist.  Within 20 minutes of being given the medication, the patient complained of shortness of breath. Within two hours, she was dead of anaphylaxis.

WHY DON’T CLINICIANS OBSERVE THESE PATIENT ALERTS?

HOSPITAL MALPRACTICE HISTORY

Previous concerns over the quality of care at the hospital, about 100km east of Perth, has already led to three doctors being suspended after five patients died following discharge.

In March, WA’s Department of Health said the three doctors would be referred to the Medical Board of Australia following an investigation by the state’s chief medical officer Gary Geelhoed.

His report pinpointed a lack of medical leadership in the Emergency Department, poor communication and uncertain roles in and between medical disciplines as major issues at the hospital.

DEADLY INCOMPETENCE TIME AFTER TIME

1. The hospital first came under scrutiny after the 2010 death of 16-year-old boy who was sent home with Panadol after the hospital failed to diagnose H1N1 influenza.
2. Then more worrying cases came to light, including the death of 53-year-old woman.  She was sent home with medication for a headache after collapsing in July 2011 but collapsed again within 30 hours and died in Perth two days later.
3. A 23-year-old nurse died after being sent home on 29 December 2012 with painkillers for a severe headache.
4. A 12-day-old baby died in 2010 of heart failure after the hospital sent him home twice.
5. A 69-year-old woman visited the hospital last June with a broken arm, was treated and then returned with vomiting and was found to have acute renal failure.  She was treated but sent home, only to return a week later, fall into a coma and die two weeks later.

All of those cases are also being investigated by the WA Coroner.  

A HOSPITAL TO AVOID FOR YOUR LIFE’S SAKE!