Hospital Cited Over Woman’s Paralysis

The state Health Department on Friday cited Albany Medical Center Hospital for three violations of the state Hospital Code in the Feb. 27 mistaken injection of a pregnant cancer patient that left the woman paralyzed and comatose.

The Health Department cited the hospital for inadequate supervision of hospital staff, poor preparation of medical staff and lack of effective policies for control of toxic or dangerous drugs in the case of Lillian Cedeno.

Cedeno, 21, was incorrectly given an injection of an anti-cancer drug. The woman, who was six months’ pregant, was injected with the drug vincristine in the spine. The drug should have been given to her intravenously, doctors said.

The injection led to lung complications and doctors decided to deliver Cedeno’s fetus by Caesarean section on March 16. The tiny infant died of a heart attack Tuesday night, while Cedeno remained in critical but stable condition.

Health Department spokesman Peter Slocum said the citations resulted from a state investigation of the incident.

He said the hospital faces a maximum $1,000 fine per violation. The hospital can dispute the charges and a hearing could be held and the case could go to court, Slocum said.

“Our main concern is not the $1,000 penalty,” Slocum said. “Our main concern is that this kind of thing never happens again.”