UC Irvine hospital uses faulty narcotics pumps, nurses union alleges

[Omaha Steve]

Source: LA Times

The union files a complaint with the state over what it describes as continued use of malfunctioning devices after they delivered overdoses to patients. The hospital disputes the allegations.

By Tony Barboza

The California Nurses Assn. filed a complaint with state regulators Thursday alleging that UC Irvine Medical Center has been using faulty pain control pumps that have caused at least five patients to receive an accidental overdose of narcotics.

According to the complaint to the state Department of Public Health, which was made available to The Times, a nurse told supervisors in February that a patient had overdosed because of a malfunction with a Curlin infusion pump; the pumps allow patients to push a button to control how much painkiller they receive while recuperating from surgery.

In that case, the error caused the device to release a dangerous overdose of narcotics all at once. In none of the cases did patients die or suffer lasting injuries.

The hospital confirmed several of the overdoses but disputed the nurses union's allegation that the facility is still using the problematic pumps.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-uci-pain-pumps10-2009jul10,0,845179.story

[uppityperson]

1. 3 cheers for nurses and nursing associations!

[bemildred]

2. Why, it's like all they care about is profit. nt