A 42-year-old woman suffered permanent heart damage after a nurse incorrectly administered her medication, and Attorney Jason Matzus settled her hospital negligence case. The error resulted in an overdose of epinephrine, a powerful drug that stimulates the heart and raises blood pressure. Epinephrine has important medical uses, but the dose must be exact, because too much places dangerous strain on the heart. In this case, the overdose caused the patient to suffer a heart attack, leaving her with lasting cardiac injury. Nurses have a duty to verify the correct medication and dosage before administering any drug, and this case shows how a preventable medication error can change a patient’s life permanently.
Medication Error: Epinephrine Overdose Leading to a Heart Attack and Permanent Heart Damage
